Project Title: Kielder Observatory
Location: Northumberland
Wood Species Used: NORTH AMERICAN DOUGLAS FIR, SIBERIAN LARCH, EUROPEAN PINE, SPRUCE AND BIRCH PLYWOODS
Project Description
The commission was won by Charles Barclay Architects in an open competition organised by the Kielder Partnership and the RIBA in 2005.
The observatory is an all-timber structure in form of a land pier standing above the rough landscape of Black Fell above Kielder Water. Designed primarily for use by amateurs and for outreach work, observatory will also be used for serious research, taking advantage of Kielder’s dark night skies. It has a warm room attached to a small rotating turret with a computer-operated Meade telescope, an open observation deck and a large turret housing a 20 inch manual telescope as the pier destination. The pier form maximises accessibility, creates a sequence of architectural events and functions as viewing platform for Kielder Water and Forest Park during the daytime.
Timber was chosen as a robust, economical and appropriate material in the forest setting; it also has low specific heat thereby releasing less radiant heat at night that can cause thermal disturbance during observation. The original intention was to use locally grown timber, but the fast-growing Sitka Spruce of Kielder could not meet the structural reqirements. The need for high strength and durability led to the specification of North American Douglas fir sub-structure, Siberian larch cladding and European pine framing, treated by Arch Timber Protection for added life-span and fire protection. Stressed plywood skin structures using Spruce and Birch plies are used for the cantilevered large turret and the flying entrance roof . The timber structure needed to be very stable and accurately built as a platform for observation and for the rotating mechanisms, and has to resist very high wind loads in the exposed location.
The building is entirely self-powered by means of a 2.5kW wind turbine and photo-voltaic panels mounted on the warm room roof, with a wood-burner for heat, and a composting WC. It is expected to have a life-span of at least twenty five years. Project value £450,000.
BUILDING OWNER: FORESTRY COMMISSION
ARCHITECT: CHARLES BARCLAY ARCHITECTS
BUILDER / MAIN CONTRACTOR: STEPHEN MERSH
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS: MICHAEL HADI ASSOCIATES
WOOD SUPPLIER: MR SOUTHERN
