Described as a ‘complete architectural composition’, this exquisite contemporary farmhouse in the Cotswolds designed by BPN Architects has won the top prize for the Private category at this year’s Wood Awards.
Sitting amidst 100 acres of farmland, newly planted with trees and wildflowers, HIAVEN is the centrepiece of a regeneration project that breathes new life into a previously derelict Cotswold farm.
This low-energy building has been carefully designed to be visually seamless and integrated within its surrounding landscape, and was described by the judges as exciting, exhilarating and uplifting.
Through a minimal material palette of timber and acid-etched concrete, the new farmhouse provides living accommodation and exhibition space, including a vast 12×36-metre column-free area.
An innovative timber-concrete composite roof provides the key unifying element of the structure, as LVL roof beams are combined with precast concrete planks to create an efficient and elegant roof solution with inherent thermal mass, designed to be easily demounted and reused. Characterised by this entirely exposed structure, the project is a showcase of hybrid engineering as architectural design.
HIAVEN was built by Lamburne Geekie and Constructional Timber Ltd, with wood supplied by Pollmeier. The structural engineers were Webb Yates.
Jim Greaves, lead Buildings judge of the Wood Awards and Principal of Hopkins Architects said:
“Arriving at HIAVEN is like approaching a Richard Neutra house in LA, with arid courtyards and blue pools evoking the California desert, and the long horizontals of the roof anchoring the building to the surrounding landscape.”
“Internally, the roofs are supported by a rigorous grid of beech LVL beams sitting atop exposed and beautifully finished concrete walls. The larger spans of the main living space gain extra support by the ingenious addition of handcrafted hybrid trusses. Elegant oak panelling and beautiful furniture complete the architectural composition. It is a beautiful house.”
David Hopkins, CEO of Timber Development UK (organisers of the Wood Awards) congratulated the whole design and build team on the night, applauding their innovative approach, quality execution, and thoughtful use of materials.
“As a material, timber can connect people with nature, adding to rather than diminishing the landscape. This is no more clearly shown than in this beautiful home amidst the Cotswolds.
“The use of beech and ash hardwoods in the project demonstrates one of the great strengths of timber – its inherent variety. Architects, engineers and contractors who are able to embrace this and express it by exposing these elements – as can be seen in HIAVEN – are leaders in timber design.
“Well done to the entire team, whose clear devotion to materiality, nature, and beauty shines through in this project.”
The Wood Awards building judges, a team of world-leading professionals, visited all 18 buildings shortlisted before deciding the winners, in one of the UK’s most rigorous assessments for any competition.
You can find out more information about all of the2024 Wood Award winners by visiting www.woodawards.com.
As a not-for-profit competition, the Wood Awards can only happen with collaborative industry sponsorship. A huge thank you for continued support from The Carpenters’ Company, American Hardwood Export Council and Timber Development UK.
