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St Edmundsbury Cathedral: Tower Ceiling

Freeland Rees Roberts Architects, Bury St Edmunds, 2010

 

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The timber ceiling comprises 10 prefabricated components, two fans in each corner and a central circle in two sections 

Harry Freeland (website)     Download Original

  • The timber ceiling comprises 10 prefabricated components, two fans in each corner and a central circle in two sections    
  • The ceiling design, as seen from the cathedral floor    
  • Each corner of the vault has two prefabricated fan structures    
  • Close-up detail of the ceiling    
  • St Edmundsbury Cathedral exterior    
  • Site location plan    
  • Cathedral floor plan    
  • Plan at latern level    
  • Plan of roof at void level    
  • Roof plan    
  • Section looking east    
  • Section looking south    
  • Section looking west    
  • Section looking north    
  • Colour scheme design by Gothic Design Practice    
  • The ceiling during construction    
  • TMS Interiors’ 3D model    
  • TMS Interiors’ 3D model    
  • TMS Interiors’ 3D model    
  • TMS Interiors’ 3D model    
  • TMS Interiors’ 3D model    
  • TMS Interiors’ 3D model    
  • TMS Interiors’ 3D model of stainless-steel brackets resin-bolted to brickwork with ball joints to permit horizontal and vertical adjustment    
  • TMS Interiors’ 3D model    
  • TMS Interiors’ 3D model of stainless-steel brackets resin-bolted to brickwork with ball joints to permit horizontal and vertical adjustment    

Detailed design of a vaulted ceiling installed in the tower of St Edmundsbury Cathedral

Taking over from The Gothic Design Partnership, the original designers of the tower, the challenge for Freeland Rees Roberts Architects was to build a timber fan vaulted ceiling 30 metres up inside the tower with no access – even to check dimensions – and with regular worship continuing.

A sophisticated computer programme was used to model the double curved ribs and panels and this was sent directly to the joiners' cutting machines. The oak was painted and gilded to provide a spectacle from the floor below.

Data

  • Begun: Jan 2009
  • Completed: Jan 2010
  • Floor area: 64m2
  • Sector: Religious
  • Procurement: JCT Internediate Coontract, 2005 (TMJ Interiors' design and installation of European oak ceiling in tower: design and build)
  • Address: St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Abbey House, 30 Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1LS, United Kingdom

Materials

Oak, Timber

Professional Team

Suppliers