Client

Mrs Dean, Freuchie

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Architects

Alasdair Baird, Falkland

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More information

Andy Parker
Hall Farm
Thickwood Lane
Colerne, Chippenham
Wiltshire
SN14 8BE
United Kingdom

Tel: 01225 743089
E-mail Andy Parker

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Friday, May 12, 2006 · Fife, Scotland

Part of the new timber framed extension to Bruce Cottage was to be traditional in style and construction. However the other part was to be made up of five identical and irregular curves which would carry a sedum roof. The curves were specifically designed to map the terrain around the cottages, so the sedum roof would blend in with the existing landscape.

Architect Alasdair Baird had originally thought that these would have to be fabricated glue laminated beam but preferred if possible to use a more natural and environmentally conscious solution, both for aesthetic reasons and as a matter of principle.

Bruce Cottage under construction

We designed and engineered shaped roof beams which consisted of two oak curves made from timber specially sourced to a template so that they would be identical, yet retain the natural strength of the grain.  These were joined by a large dry oak spline which was bolted with split ring connectors sandwiched between them to resist shear from the immense loads of the sedum roof.

These beams were combined into cross frames (which traverse the width of the building) with the much more familiar jowl post at one side of the cross frame and a post with an arched brace on the opposing side. The arched brace was used to resist the immense forces from the sedum roof and thus prevent the eaves from spreading.