PROJECTS
The interior of the swimming pool’s roof.
Continued from page 34
concrete foundation and prefabricated timber pitched and
tapered roof, intends to be a contemporary expression of the
local architecture.
During the 9th Wood conference held in Cape Town this
year, the advantages of prefabricated timber houses for
developers were discussed. According to Ulrich Grimminger
and Thomas Just, following a steady decline in timber
construction since the 1800s and with the introduction of
concrete and steel, there has been an increase in demand
since about 2000. In Germany timber construction is
expected to hold 30% of market share. One of the major
advantages of prefabricated timber is that it is primarily very
efficient on site, but also greatly reduces waste as the
production process is very precise. A prefabricated roof
structure was used on a concrete retaining base.
Sustainably sourced, Scandinavian wood contributed to
the main beams, pillars and supports while the exterior was
constructed using cross laminated timber (CLT) ply skin and
the interior was finished with a white breathable wash.
According to Brad Burback, CLT originates from Germany
and Austria where it was primarily used as structural
members. In his research paper titled ‘Potential of cross
laminated timber in single family residential construction,’
Burback explains how CLT is made from wood lamina,
slightly smaller than dimension lumber and is stacked into
odd number of layers (laminations) in an orthogonal pattern,
similar to the way modern plywood is created. To create a
single solid wood panel, the laminations are glued together.
By featuring a tapered design Duggan Morris formed an
acoustic baffle to reduce echo, consequently allowing a calm
and serene atmosphere for the pupils. In addition, a low-
level glass window strip around the pool allows for an
unobstructed view of the surrounding fields and landscapes
36 JUNE / JULY 2019 //
The roof of the swimming pool at Alfriston School.
creating a wonderful finish and providing pupils and the
public with a peaceful environment.
Following the masterplan designed for a phased design
programme, funding was raised from various stake holders
which included Sport England, local government and private
donors. The pool’s total capacity is for 24 people.
www.timberiq.co.za