A-Z of Self Build Guides Timber Frame Construction

Date Published:

02/06/2008

Gridshell, an award-winning design at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, is a great example. It features the smooth curves synonymous with ultramodern design, but the structure of an ancient building.

Inside, the building is even more striking than its exterior. Six years from design to completion, this can be truly considered as a wonder of modern architecture. Nicknamed 'the peanut', it features twisting beams and slinky curves. Despite the obvious heritage of the building, it wouldn't be here were it not for some advanced computer-aided design.

The production techniques actually share a lot in common with aircraft building. This is largely down to the fantastic durability and adaptability of oak - they knew how to pick a good building material back then and it has a timeless quality.

To put this ground-breaking building together, hundreds of thin pieces of oak were criss-crossed together and then laid flat before being pulled down into shape, like a giant fishing net. After three months the frame was ready in the correct shape.

The biggest advantage that our modern technology gives us is that we can now design buildings that use far less material than they did a while back - think of it as an example of brains over brawn. Big bulky beams can now be substituted for delicate designs that are far more efficient in terms of resources.

If this is a sign of things to come then we should be excited. It goes to prove that oak isn't old hat or stuck in some heritage time warp, but it's actually one of the most versatile, even futuristic, materials of our time.