Downland Gridshell
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Edward Cullinan Architects (website) Download Original
Green oak timber gridshell structure housing naturally lit space for restoration and research of historic timber structures
An innovative, low energy structure, the building was the first timber gridshell built in Britain. The form was created from a flat lattice of green oak that was lowered into a three-dimensional shape with the use of gravity.
The archive administration centre and exhibition hall are contained on a level sunk into the ground while the upper floor space acts as a workshop for restoration of historical timber frames.
The contents of the archive, kept under the ground surface level are protected from weather changes using minimal energy.
As well as functioning to the original brief as a workshop and artefacts store, the building has been used for a wide variety of events and attracts a large number of visitors to the museum.
Data
- Begun: Jun 2000
- Completed: Jun 2002
- Floor area: 1,220m2
- Sector: Arts and culture
- Total cost: £1.3M
- Tender date: Mar 2000
- Procurement: JCT IFC 1998
- Address: Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex, P018 0EU, United Kingdom
Professional Team
- Architect: Cullinan Studio
- Project architects: Edward Cullinan, John Romer, Robin Nicholson, Steve Johnson
- Client: Weald & Downland Open Air Museum
- Project Director: John Romer
- Main contractor: E A Chiverton
- Structural engineer: Fulcrum Consulting/ WW
- Quantity surveyor: Boxall Sayer
- Carpenter: The Green Oak Carpentry Company
Suppliers
- Scaffolding: Peri Ltd UK
- Electrical Contractor: DS-Electrical
- Timber Jointing Specialist Machinery: Grecon Dimter
- Hardwood Supplier: English Woodlands Timber
- Glulam laminated timber : Technical Timber Services
- Softwood Decking : BSW Timber
- Hard Wood Decking: West Dean Estate
- Cork Floor Membrane: Siesta Cork Tile Co
- Timber Glues: Collano Ebnother AG
- Underground Insulation: Pittsburgh Corning UK