The Wash House

The Wash House provides spacious showers, toilets (fed by rainwater), and a washing-up area with an amazing view. Designed for minimal environmental impact, it combines reused telegraph poles as structural timber with locally coppiced Chestnut. Partially roofed, it includes an open air shower offering views of the treetops and sky. To ensure a dry, clean elevated deck for campers, the Wash House was raised off the ground. Reused telegraph poles, chosen for their low cost, strength, and durability, were anchored one meter into the ground using compacted waste aggregates—eliminating the need for concrete foundations or virgin aggregates. The poles reference the telegraph line running along an old railway that bisects the campsite. The decking is made from sweet-chestnut timber sourced from coppiced woodland, an ancient management system that allows rotational felling from long-established trees rather than clear-cutting and replanting. The roof combines local Larch timber with salvaged corrugated roofing sheets from a nearby farm. A highly collaborative approach between builder, engineer, and architect allowed for flexible material selection based on local availability. Using a sketch-based construction drawing format enabled a rapid response to changes and build preferences as materials became available.