Utilising their unique Spider and Pillar connectors, Rothoblaas has delivered the ‘first ever’ flat slab project using mass timber to help transform an idyllic lakeside retreat into a sustainable triumph.
Tucked away on the shores of a lake in the Buckinghamshire countryside hides the Eden Lakeside Retreat. Designed with space and flexibility in mind, featuring large spans to allow for future room reconfigurations, the lodge boasts easily accessible open plan living, offering breathtaking lake views.
Constructed using cross laminated timber (CLT), the structure blends in seamlessly with its surroundings. But an aesthetically pleasing building – envisioned by architects Cudot and engineering firm Studio Allen – gives way to a contemporary and expertly designed structure, with Rothoblaas supplying the key fixtures and fittings and ConstruktCLT, handling design, logistics, and installation.
The project began when Cudot presented ConstruktCLT with an ambitious pre-designed plan. ConstruktCLT enlisted the help of Studio Allen and Rothoblaas for engineering support, as well as Mint Construction for installation – as a result, the entire building was assembled in just three weeks.
One of the key components in the retreat’s construct was the Rothoblaas ‘Spider connector’ and reinforcement system. With the aim of minimising the use of columns, concrete and steel in mind, ConstruktCLT proposed using the flat slab Spider method to achieve a smooth, single plane on the underside of the slab for effective insulation and membranes.
This meant that apart from the 25 columns embedded in the ground and two supporting the glazing, no other steel was used throughout the building. The steel embedded in the ground was essential to raise the building above the water level of the lake. The property also features a two-metre cantilever overhang that extends to form a jetty over the lake. A fully insulated and watertight design was minimised to avoid extra foundations.
Post and beam reduction
This project was initially designed to minimise the number of concrete and steel beams used in the foundations but also reduce timber elements, moving away from the traditional post and beam construction method. By using Rothoblaas’ Spider and Pillar connectors, the project avoided conventional post and beam techniques, resulting in a fully flat slab floor – a first for a CLT structure. This combined with various connection details allowed for a wider span grid between the steel columns, further reducing the number of steel columns needed for the foundation.
The Spider connecter system offers exceptional strength and flexibility, crucial for the integrity of CLT structures as it allows for seamless connections between timber components, ensuring stability and resilience against environmental stresses. This advanced technology not only simplifies the assembly process but also significantly reduces construction time and costs and by integrating the Rothoblaas Spider connector.
Eden Lakeside Retreat represents the cutting edge of eco-friendly architecture, seamlessly blending in with its picturesque surroundings while also pushing the boundaries of contemporary construction. It benefits from a robust and sustainable framework, exemplifying the perfect blend of innovation and natural beauty, combining form and function. Timber decking surrounds the front entrance, and the glazed windows maximise solar gains and provide stunning panoramas.The property also includes a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system and an air source heat pump (ASHP), to help regulate the lodge’s internal temperature.
The collective efforts of Cudot, Studio Allen, Rothoblaas, and ConstruktCLT have culminated in a retreat that not only offers a tranquil escape but also sets a new standard for sustainable design and mass timber construction.
www.rothoblaas.com
www.construktclt.com
Image: The Spider connector has been employed for the first time in a ‘flat slab’ mass timber context
