Welcome to Our Blog - Natural Structures

Jul 31

by Simon Lewington in Case Studies 0 comments

Cottage Extension, Ashley

This beautiful old cottage is situated in the Leicestershire countryside, it is as pretty as it is quaint. But despite its pros, it has the similar problems as all cottages that we come across; low ceilings, small windows, very contained and not much light. The brief for this project was to create space in the kitchen and increase light throughout the ground floor. To complement the existing house, a flat-roofed design was chosen – as with all projects, it is essential that the new build is sympathetic to the existing, and a flat roof design sits well and doesn’t impose on its surroundings. We also ensured our stonework complimented and colour matched the ‘random coursing’ stonework of the existing cottage to further aid the transition between old and new. Because of the low ceilings, we decided to put two atriums into the flat roof to really maximise as much natural light as possible. To further increase this, the large windows in the extension enable light to flood into the rest of the house. Cottages are known for having unusual layouts, and this one doesn’t disappoint. We love its unique kitchen which has been cleverly designed to maximise space by wrapping […]

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Jul 11

by Simon Lewington in Case Studies 0 comments

Historic Build, Bourne

We’ve had the pleasure of contributing to this beautiful historic house. Built in the 17th Century; this property was used by the Bishop of Lincoln as a stopover on a regular basis. The land also has links to the 11th century and may have been used by King John of England. Because of its historic and listed status, planning has a been a very long and difficult road for both our clients and Architects – taking over a year. With a lot of hard work and perseverance, we were finally granted planning permission and could start on site at the end of 2017. The concept for this project was to have the oak frame hidden behind the limestone, so the extension is in keeping with the existing house. The extension’s stonework matches the existing ‘sawn on the bed’ style limestone, which will darken with time and blend in even more with its surroundings. Our oak frame pairs wonderfully with the style of this house; breaking up the hard stonework and adding a contemporary twist with the oaks form and texture. Light was a very important aspect of this project; due to the narrow original windows, the house can be quite […]

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Jul 09

by Simon Lewington in Uncategorized 0 comments

Historic Build, Bourne

We’ve had the pleasure of contributing to this beautiful historic house in Bourne – built in the 17th Century; this property and was used by the Bishop of Lincoln as a stopover on a regular basis. The land also has links to the 11th century and may have been used by King John of England. Because of its historic and listed status, planning has a been a very long a difficult road for both our clients and Architects – taking over a year. With a lot of hard work and perseverance, we were finally granted planning permission and could start on site at the end of 2017. The concept for this project was to have the oak frame hidden behind the limestone, so the extension is in keeping with the existing house. The extension’s stonework matches the existing ‘sawn-on-the- bed’ style limestone, which will darken with time and blend in even more with its surroundings. Our oak frame pairs wonderfully with the style of this house; breaking up the hard stonework and adding a contemporary twist with the oaks form and texture. Light was a very important aspect of this project; due to the narrow original windows, the house can […]

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Mar 12

by Simon Lewington in Case Studies 0 comments

Boat House, Rolleston

This solid oak framed boathouse was built on a private estate a few miles away from our office in Tur Langton. The lake itself covers approximately 4 acres and has been used for decades to supply the estate with water, fish stocks and ice in the winter. The oak structure is an insulated and fully contained unit which includes: A kitchenette Wood burning stove Dining area “Alfresco” covered eating area Eco WC Two opening elevations leading to the surrounding decking And last but not least, a covered dock for a rowboat. Originally the house was built to accommodate a dozen or so people whilst shooting on the estate but the project evolved and now it’s function is multi-faceted covering shooting parties, birthday parties, weddings and simply just to enjoy the open space next to the water. Although the design is very simple, it works well with the environment. Internally we kept the look and feel very simple, with a timber floor and painted “New England” style match boarding that contrasted nicely with the oak. The cedar roof tiles give the structure the complete “woody feel”. By creating a sympathetic structure we have managed to enhance the area aesthetically but also […]

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Oct 20

by Simon Lewington in Case Studies 0 comments

Outstanding Outhouse, Ashley

This multi-functioned oak structure has been designed around four key factors: A living area that is insulated and usable throughout the year. A logia style roof extension creating a dry seating area. A ride on mower garage that was easily accessible to the main lawns. Two rear garages. The oak structure has built in Wi-fi & Sonos speakers throughout. Built-in lighting that also provides extra heating. A double sided log burner and bi-fold doors which allows the structure to be opened up and let the outside in. The chimney breast is lime plastered which, when trowelled, leaves a very natural textured finish. This continues the textures running throughout the design. The ceilings are clad in timber with exposed beam rafters to create a lodge aesthetic. The living area is completely surrounded by large overhangs which enable the doors to remain open, no matter whatever the weather. We used limestone saddle stones on the bottom of the vertical free standing posts and black contemporary furniture which creates a contrast to the oak. The final look and feel of the oak structure is one of simplicity and balance. As our client is a very well renowned interior designer, the finished building has […]

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Oct 19

by Simon Lewington in Case Studies 0 comments

From Forest to Front Room

For this very special project, the large oak trusses really were the star of the show. We decided on a cruck truss design, not only because we’ve got the technique down to an art, but we thought this style would add something very unique to the build. After our drawings and calculations were given a thumbs up by the client, we sent our request to our mill owners in France. The crux of this project was to find 6 beams that were similar in section size and more importantly, radius. Our fantastic mill owners painstakingly hand-picked the perfect beams for this project. Once the beams arrived at our workshop our artisan craftsmen began work. To match the large oak trusses, we came up with a simpler, smaller design for the kitchen. Again, once this was confirmed with the client, our team manufactured and assembled the two structures simultaneously. Overall this project was a labour of love by both the client and our team. The organic shape of the trusses emphasises the natural form of the oak which creates a truly unique feel to the space. The clients are delighted with the final outcome, as are we, in fact we think […]

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