sketch to show how a curved beam might sit in a building.

Kevin is the most experienced client that I’ve worked with and it’s been very interesting collaborating on the design with him. Usually I design the buildings I build but on this project, Kevin produced the designs on CAD and we batted these back and forth discussing materials, measurements and structural forces. You’ll see Kevin’s designs on the tele. The design above is one I produced early on to show the TV production team how a curved beam might sit in a building. It was fascinating to see how the same beams inspired Kevin to produce a completely different form.

I would guess that the design of Kevin’s shed was driven by his commitment to ecological principles, his love of the natural environment and his sense of bold geometry. There are no wind braces in the building; instead we have relied on the skin of 18mm ply externally and 9mm internally which are attached to the frame and stud work. The structural rigidity of the frame comes from a combination of shoulder and lap joints and metal fixings.

Kevin’s design and the project on the ground co-evolved in a leapfrog fashion, each informing the other. We started with a sound plan for the timber frame and an anticipation of other materials needed but remained open to change during the build. This is a very exciting way to work and ideal for the DIY shed builder.
Books for design inspiration: Homework – Author – L. Khan Shelter – Ed. L. Khan.

only tractor or 4×4 access

Back in January I first visited the site of Kevin’s shed-to-be. One of the first stages in any project is to assess local conditions that may affect design or logistics. For example Kevin’s site was a heavy clay field (which became very boggy) with only tractor or 4×4 access. I surveyed the woodland next to the field to assess the volume of timber available, the ecological impact of felling the trees and how we would drag them out. Felling is always a delicate balancing act in a small woodland and it’s worth reading up on this or getting some advice from a pro. Kevin was lucky enough to have eight good timber oaks and we decided that only two could be felled without having an unacceptable impact on the woodland.

Having estimated the hopus foot (usable timber volume in a tree) I knew that these trees would supply about a quarter of our total timber needs. The two trees we chose to remove opened up the canopy, allowing more light to reach the woodland floor and creating space for natural regeneration. It will be interesting to see which species take the opportunity to grow here; there is an understory of hazel (that Kevin is coppicing) and also a good seed bank of ash.

Books on woodland management:The woodland way – Ben Law. Silviculture and Management of Coppice Woodlands – Ralph Harmer.

I’ve promised not to give away any details about how the shed looks, but it’s been very interesting working through the design with Kevin. He’s the most experienced client I’ve ever worked with. Normally I design the buildings I build. This is the first time I’ve worked for a client with real passion for design. I’m receiving regular CAD drawings which we bat back and forth, discussing materials and measurements. The appearance of the shed is driven by Kevin’s commitment to ecological design, his love of the natural environment and his sense of bold geometry. There I shall leave it for you to enjoy on TV 23rd Sept.