Custom-Built
Baxter Green Architects
Residential Development
Crockerton, Wiltshire
Structural Timber Frame System, Precision Manufacturing, High-Performance Building Envelope
Located in the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the site demanded a design that carefully respected its environment. Baxter Green Architects were commissioned to design two residential properties as a replacement and infill development on a sloping site close to Shearwater.
The project required a structure that could accommodate complex architectural features such as stepped elevations, a layered combination of materials and expansive areas of glazing. It was vital to preserve existing access routes and mature trees along the southern boundary to retain the natural character of the site. Furthermore, the ambitious environmental targets meant the structural envelope had to meet strict Passive House criteria.
Working in close partnership with Custom-Built and Baxter Green Architects, Sydenhams Timber Engineering delivered the highly accurate structural timber frame system required to bring this 4,000 sq ft home to life.
Timber frame construction was chosen to allow for the high levels of precision and efficient on-site installation needed for such a bespoke design. The structural envelope was engineered to support a highly insulated core, facilitating the integration of triple glazing, air source heating and a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system. The precision of our timber frame also seamlessly accommodated the striking architectural elements, including the vertical timber cladding, the stepped zinc roof and the fully glazed Garden Room.
The Brac stands as a strong example of how long-term collaboration can support ambitious residential design. The finished home perfectly balances contemporary architecture with the natural landscape, featuring sliding timber louvre shutters and untreated timber cladding designed to weather naturally over time. Crucially, the home achieved its ambitious Passive House credentials to provide exceptional thermal performance and low-carbon living.
The project also reinforced our long-standing relationship with the developer. Dean Orchard, Managing Director at Sydenhams Timber Engineering, noted: