Sharpham Coach House Meditation Room

The client’s main requirements were that the material used was sustainable so it made sense that Douglas fir was the chosen timber for the frame. A beautiful and robust softwood, Douglas fir is grown here in the UK. The space needed to be beautiful, modern, light and airy with easy connectivity to the outside gardens. It also needed to be multifunctional as both a dining area and a meditation space, as well as meet planning permission constraints.

As the meditation room was being added onto a listed building, the planning requirements specified that it couldn’t be too invasive. Where we would normally have the frame up against the wall and then drill through it to attach the frame, here, the frame had to be connected using five steel brackets. These have not been hidden and it’s clear to see how the timber frame and the wall of the coach house are separated.

Another design feature that had to be carefully considered was how to support and stabilise the walls with bracing but also allow for the space to be opened up with lots of doors which open out to the patio and garden. Carpenter Oak’s frame designer, Paul Slemmings, used steel T sections for this which were housed within the Douglas fir posts and top plates, allowing for a paired back and minimal look with just the beauty of the timber on view. The roof is a rigid membrane which, in conjunction with the ‘T’ brackets resists the forces applied to the building by wind.

The ceiling of the meditation space also works really well and is very textured with different beams at different levels and angles, again showcasing the orangey-pink hue of the timber.

The client put a lot of thought into the practicalities of how the building was going to be used. Converting a listed building to give it a new lease of life as a retreat centre, which allows for a lot of connectivity to the natural environment, was never going to be easy, but the resulting building is beautiful, and the meditation space is the perfect new addition to it.

“We’re really happy with the finish and get such positive feedback from guests and everyone who uses it. People love the space – they love spending time in it, they like all the light that is let in and the easy transition to outside.” Julian Carnell – Sharpham Trust Director.

We work with large organisations such as charities, schools and business owners, as well as self-builders, helping them to build beautiful and sustainable buildings across the UK. If you have a project you would like to discuss with us, please get in touch.