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Product category: Roofing
News Release from: Marley Eternit | Subject: Fibre cement profiled sheeting
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial Team on 21 July 2006

Fibre cement profiled sheeting is
sustainable

Fibre cement profiled sheeting from Marley Eternit has provided a "simple and elegant" sustainable solution to the redevelopment of a Victorian garden in a country house estate.

Fibre cement profiled sheeting from Marley Eternit has provided a "simple and elegant" sustainable solution to the redevelopment of a Victorian garden in a country house estate on the Scottish borders The Farmscape roofing, which was specifically designed with a pigmented top layer that blends into the landscape better than traditional gloss paint, was specified by Scottish Ecological Design Association member Lyner Reid Architect and installed by Neil Feenan Joinery on the roof of a garden building - a workshop for young people with learning difficulties

The client, Garvald West Linton, is a charity that offers a rewarding and stimulating menu of courses aimed at building the self-esteem, co-ordination skills and confidence of the young adults who are mainly residential although some live off the estate.

The charity is based in a country house estate 20 miles south of Edinburgh, near West Linton.

Bought in 1944, it comprises a Victorian country house, estate grounds and farmland.

The workshop site was laid out as a garden in the 19th Century but this had been neglected and the project aimed to re-establish it and provide a supporting workshop facility.

The focus of the project was the creation of a flower and herb garden in a sheltered woodland site known as "Paradise" on a knoll near the main house that was accessible only by footpath.

For the students to derive the greatest benefit from the garden, a need was identified for an adjacent shelter and large, multi-purpose workshop with wood-burning stove and cooking area, offering craft, education and social activities primarily related to the seasonal work in the garden.

Supporting facilities included 14m2 of storage for machines and tools, with a cool, dark area for root vegetables and light, dry area for herbs, onions and garlic.

The charity contacted the Scottish Ecological Design Association, seeking an architect to provide a design sympathetic to the setting and to the centre's ethos and commitment to sustainability, and following interviews, SEDA member Roland Reid of Lyner Reid Architect was appointed.

The final design followed detailed discussions with the team leader for the garden project, Georgie Jones, and Garvald's manager Rab Crichton.

The arrangement of rooms and spaces reflects the sequence of activities during a session - students assemble and tasks are explained, overalls are put on, tools are picked up - so maximum time can be spent in the garden.

Staff and residents were consulted and the final scheme reflected their comments.

The building was carefully sited to minimise its impact and oriented to maximise solar gain and provide a sheltered external space with views into the garden.

A tree survey was carried out to reassure Scottish Borders Council that the development would not impact on the mature trees that surround the garden.

A preliminary meeting was held with Borders Council planning department and it was agreed that the building was appropriate for the setting of a Listed Building and would not be unduly prominent in the landscape.

A sample of Farmscape submitted to the planners as a condition of approval.

The design and specification was then developed to minimise the need for heavy plant and machinery during the four-month build time since a rough footpath to the site would have made craning the materials to site difficult.

The 50m2 timber frame building was "stick built" on a concrete slab using engineered timber stud and rafters.

Insulated with recycled newspaper to higher than current building standards and heated by a stove with wood from the estate, it is clad with untreated locally sourced larch.

Water-based paint from natural sources was applied to windows, doors and internal walls.

It was agreed that disabled access was required despite the six-metre difference in level from the road access.

The upgraded path follows the curving route of the original Victorian paths as far as possible with a new, 100-metre disabled path gently rising up the bank.

Rhododendrons partly screen the paths when viewed from Garvald House.

Roland Reid said: "We sought a material suitable for a rural setting, which would allow overhangs to protect the timber cladding, that was easy and quick to install on a restricted budget and that was non-combustible since a wood-burning stove was specified.

"The representative from Marley Eternit was very helpful, organising a visit by our client to a nearby equestrian centre to see the Farmscape.

He also assisted with the technical specification, advised on rainwater goods and supplied Farmscape samples.

"We chose the Anthracite to complement the colour of the larch cladding and I believe that the textured Farmscape roofing and matching standard components provide a simple and elegant solution.

The client greatly values their natural surroundings and seems very happy that they have a building appropriate for its setting.

Roland Reid added: "Meeting the brief required an appreciation of the Garvald ethos, an understanding of the needs of the end users and sensitivity to a very attractive site.

A considerable amount of time was spent with the client finalising the location of the workshop in the garden. Request a free brochure from Marley Eternit ...

"This was a very challenging site and it is thanks to the client's commitment to this project and that of the design team and contractor that it has been brought to a successful conclusion.".

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