Ecochoice was chosen to supply all the timber cladding for this stunning modern extension to the Old Bearhurst site, situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in the Upper Rother Valley, in East Sussex.
We supplied Frake timber for the project. Frake is typically not a very durable wood. The timber we supplied for the Old Bearhurst project, however, was thermo-modified. This gave it the twofold benefit of becoming more durable and stable, making it commercially attractive and thus lowering the footprint of the forestry operation since it distributes the demand upon a higher number of different species.
The timber is beautiful, with a flawless surface. There are no visible knots and the fresh timber shows a flame-like mix of gold and dark veins. Over time, the timber will weather to an equally beautiful, consistent silver-grey.
As we can clearly see with the Old Bearhurst project, timber cladding is a wonderful choice when looking to marry the modern with the classic, or the natural with the man-made.
As the architects, Duggan Morris, have said: “timber boarding is the dominant material, tying together old and new elements.”
Thanks to the beautiful cladding, the building mixes seamlessly with its environment, allowing the character of both the site and its surroundings to shine through.
Another added bonus is that the cladding also lowers the carbon footprint of the project, as the timber acts as a form of carbon sink.
It was a pleasure to collaborate with Duggan Morris on this amazing project. Their choice of Frake cladding achieves a fantastic balance between contemporary finish and respect for the local heritage, blending the façade with the surrounding environment in a very stylish fashion.
Photographs by James Brittain