Geometrical shenanigans.
Structural model for a low carbon all-timber house in Surrey with an irregular skewed and cranked roof plane.
With @coffeyarchitects
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#structure #structuralengineer #structuraldesign #residentialarchitecture #lowenergydesign
An initial concept drawing for a canopy roof on our latest project.
Carrying a garden roof and supported on two stone columns with a 2m perimeter cantilever all round, this type of structure would more commonly be achieved using steel framing or a reinforced concrete deck.
We are considering an all-plywood, low weight, low carbon alternative, using offsite manufacture of ribbed plywood with a doubly curved underside, similar to a boat-building approach.
The components can be CNC cut to very tight dimensional tolerances and assembled as modules that can be hand lifted and carried through the house in sections. These can then be bolted together in situ, followed by the addition of a bonded top deck.
The use of discrete modules also facilitates the easy introduction of a thermally isolated joint along the glazing line below, preventing a cold bridge between the projecting cantilever and the internal living space.
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#structuraldesign #architecture #timberdesign #lowcarbon #plywood
A wonderful visit to @houseofannetta this afternoon to see @edgrayart 's 30 year retrospective. A HUGE amount of his finished work and sketchbooks on display, focusing on London and it's people in all their glory.
An added bonus, the opportunity to see inside one of the beautiful 17C Spitalfields weavers houses; the perfect setting!
Ed is there until Sunday.
Some more photos of our Kensington project, these showing the roof remodelling including the new bedroom suite, stair flight and top floor, added to create a home office space within the front gable.
Structural models of the new roof structure and lower ground support described in our previous post are also shown.
Architect @nashbakerarchi
Contractor @margreiterconstruction
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#structure #structuralengineer #structuraldesign #residentialdesign #housingdesign #architecture #residentialarchitecture #construction #lowenergydesign #fastconstruction #economicconstruction #greenconstruction #steeldesign #beautifulhomes #leanconstruction #mmc #dfma #renovation #remodelling #retrofit
Some photos of recently completed remodelling work on a beautiful home in Kensington.
Together with @nashbakerarchi we opened up the existing lower-ground floor space, re-supporting the building on new steel framing and foundations to facilitate the revised layout. This space links to the garden via a new extension and stepped external courtyard.
The external area incorporates below ground storage cupboards and has been beautifully finished in unusually slim profiled Petersen brickwork.
In addition to the lower-ground floor, we carried out a complete redesign of the top floor and roof profile and incorporated a new room at that level at the front of the building in what was previously unused storage space. Photographs of that to follow in the next post.
Architect @nashbakerarchi
Contractor @margreiterconstruction
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#structure #structuralengineer #structuraldesign #residentialdesign #housingdesign #architecture #residentialarchitecture #construction #lowenergydesign #fastconstruction #economicconstruction #greenconstruction #steeldesign #beautifulhomes #leanconstruction #mmc #dfma #renovation #remodelling #retrofit
'Thank you' notes to a building. Not as uncommon as you might think.
An illustration of how lives become embedded in buildings, memories are shaped by them, and why it's important to build well. I recently heard @modernister describe a good building as "a love letter to the future". Occasionally, the future replies!
Photo taken at a first visit to a new project in Westbourne Park, a lovely Victorian townhouse recently vacated by it's owners after nearly four decades. A new chapter begins.
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#structuralengineer #structuraldesign #residentialdesign #housingdesign #architecture
More pictures of our Forest Hill project, including some of the outstanding fit-out work on the upper floors.
With @prewettbizleyarchitects
Contractor @ardorprojectsltd
Photography: @agnesesanvito
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#structure #structuralengineer #structuraldesign #residentialdesign #housingdesign #architecture #residentialarchitecture #construction #lowenergydesign #fastconstruction #economicconstruction #greenconstruction #steeldesign #beautifulhomes #leanconstruction #mmc #dfma #renovation #remodelling #retrofit
Some photos of our completed remodel and extension of a large family house in Forest Hill.
As descibed in an earlier post on the design approach, we developed a simple 'Meccano kit' of small structural elements, bolted together on site to form a supporting framework, with every individual piece of steel being hand-liftable. This avoided heavy steelwork and awkward cranage and lifting operations.
An additional benefit of this approach is that with the right sequencing, the small, closely spaced beams can act as temporary support for the brickwork during demolition, replacing the usual temporary works propping and 'needling' stages.
The structural layout has been revealed by the architects to interesting effect via the window arrangements around thin columns and the coffered ceiling profile around the small beams at ground floor ceiling level.
With @prewettbizleyarchitects
Contractor: @ardorprojectsltd
Photography: @agnesesanvito
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#structure #structuralengineer #structuraldesign #residentialdesign #housingdesign #architecture #residentialarchitecture #construction #lowenergydesign #fastconstruction #economicconstruction #greenconstruction #steeldesign #beautifulhomes #leanconstruction #mmc #dfma #renovation #remodelling #retrofit
Our Highgate site has temporarily become a timber workshop, with preparation and painting of the recently delivered glulam beams underway.
Some of the different connection types can be seen here prior to assembly. All beam to beam connections are designed to be hidden, with no fixings to be visible in the finished structure.
For smaller beams and lighter loads, timber mortice and tenon locators have been cut in, with long crossed screws to be inserted through each connection to take the loads once in place. For the heavier long span beams, steel Pitzl connectors (an engineered, high capacity mortice and tenon) are necessary.
Also visible are the concrete clad steel columns, that will be left exposed and provide stability to the new roof and 3 storey structure above. Connection to these is via bespoke, bolted steel top plates, designed to allow services to pass through, avoiding cutting of the new timber beams.
All timber bearings into the existing external walls will be wrapped to ensure no long term durability problems due to moisture.
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#structure #structuralengineer #structuraldesign #residentialdesign #housingdesign #architecture #residentialarchitecture #construction #retrofit #lowenergydesign #fastconstruction #economicconstruction #greenconstruction #timberdesign #steeldesign #leanconstruction #dfma #renovation #remodelling #modernistarchitecture #1920sarchitecture #highgate
Following design work earlier last year on the remodelling and refurbishment of this very early 1920's modernist building in Highgate, construction is now proceeding apace.
It's great to see the details of the original design revealed, which reflect it's past combination of light industrial and residential uses.
The new design preserves almost all the original fabric, with minimal interventions to facilitate the new extensions to the rear.
Soon to be delivered is the exposed glulam timber roof structure, which will cover what was the original ground floor workshop space.
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@bowtieconstruct@prewettbizleyarchitects
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#structure #structuralengineer #structuraldesign #residentialdesign #housingdesign #architecture #residentialarchitecture #construction #retrofit #lowenergydesign #fastconstruction #economicconstruction #greenconstruction #timberdesign #steeldesign #leanconstruction #dfma #renovation #remodelling #modernistarchitecture #1920sarchitecture #highgate
Morning site visit to the landscaped tranquility of the Sydenham Hill Estate.
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#sydenhamhillestate #structure #structuralengineer #structuraldesign #housingdesign #architecture #residentialarchitecture #construction #retrofit #lowenergydesign #renovation #remodelling
