ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS
AUTOBARN BY BINDLOSS DAWES
ARCHITECTURE PRACTICE BINDLOSS DAWES HAS COMPLETED A FIVE- BAY GARAGE AND ACCOMPANYING WORKSHOP TO HOUSE A CLIENT ’ S COLLECTION OF CLASSIC CARS
The elegant timber addition sits within the grounds of a Grade- II listed 18th century home located on the outskirts of a leafy Somerset village . Bindloss Dawes developed a flexible , ‘ long-life , loose-fit ’ concept that could be used for a range of different uses at different stages of the building ’ s life .
The Autobarn comprises a long , slender garage which intersects with a hardy workshop space appearing as two pitched volumes in an L-shaped plan . The spaces are top-lit by overhead glazing that runs along the apex of their angular roofs , illuminating the five-bay garage and the taller mechanic workshop below . Bindloss Dawes integrated a sleek timber tool store and washbasin at the perimeter of the workshop , which overlooks the leafy gardens beyond through a large double glazed window . A toilet and further storage is concealed by timber joinery under stairs which lead to a mezzanine study , diversifying the spaces on offer for future use .
Bindloss Dawes contended with the challenge of coordinating an intricate arrangement of sliding doors to provide security , access , and climate control . The largest opening , a 7m entrance to the garage , features a three-bay wide , floor-to-ceiling timber screen that smoothly slides beyond the footprint of the foundations to provide easy access into the garage . An equally-vast , twoleaf , sliding glass door provides a further layer of security , and stacks itself behind a two-bay wide steel security door , which mechanically peels back to sit flush along the south western wall .
The three layers act in deft unison , with the precision detailing of the foundations that they sit in allowing each to operate independently . Meticulously designed components and junctions , with exacting tolerances , create a seemingly simple elevation capable of creating varied facade options with ease .
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