The Houseboat
This award winning bespoke building is shaped like two upturned boat hulls leaning together facing the sea, with lots of light and airy void space between the split level floor levels. TFCo worked closely with the client and design team to design and specify the superstructure which it delivered on site to a completed structural shell. The building employs a central concrete ‘banjo’ core structure that the exposed Douglas Fir primary frame ribs connect to at their apex that support the floors and roof structure. The UK sourced Douglas Fir portal frame ribs are planed and oiled and connected by epoxy coated steel flitch plates, brackets and stainless steel pig nut bolts. Structural stud and purlin open panels to the walls and roof, envelope the primary frame. Sheathed in Panelvent, their voids filled with Warmcel recycled insulation, the panels have CNC cut ply rims that form the curved wall panels and abutting roof panel edges accurately. Steel floor beams span between the Douglas Fir primary frame ribs, with conventional softwood joists spanning between them. All of the timber panels and primary frame were constructed off site, assembled on site in sequence with a crane.
Architect – Mole Architects
Structural Engineer – Solent Civil
Project Manager – Rebecca Grainger Architects
Client – Roger Zogolovitch (Solid Space)
Awards: Stephen Lawrence Prize 2017, RIBA South West Awards 2017
