Design Studio Sheffield

The ambition for the design studio was to produce an inspiring space in which to nurture imagination and innovation. Conceived as an object, the building has sought to protect and shelter the intellectual creativity that is contained within from the industrial context to which it is attached.

The brief was to create an independent product design studio.

The ambition for the design studio was to produce an inspiring space in which to nurture imagination and innovation, influenced by the proposed use and its location near the Peak District National Park, the concept sought to wrap the intellectual creativity by adopting natural materials, colour and texture.  Wood seemed to be the natural choice.

Right from the dawn of man, wood was used as a construction material to build structures for shelter.

Timber is ranked as the world’s most eco-friendly building solution. It is not toxic and chemical vapor is not leaked in the building. It ages naturally and is not degraded into toxic products that is environmentally damaging. In addition, timber is renewable as its continually grown in plantations and forests, yet it is seemingly underutilised in the UK and we sought to experiment with its use in this experiential project.

Relatively little energy is utilized in the conversion of wood to building timber. Energy in timber is the lowest in all building materials. Timber also serves as a good reservoir of atmospheric carbon that contributes to global warming. It is also a good insulator and this reduces the use of energy in heating buildings.

Energy costs are reduced in winter and the buildings are cooler in summer. Energy needs are generally reduced when timber is used in the construction of floors, doors and windows.   A wooden structure takes a short period to construct and yields a fast-financial return, the construction proved lighter and this reduced the cost of the foundations.

Following significant research, it was proposed to use a Glulam structure which is an advanced and versatile construction material used in construction of simple beams to soaring arches. Glulam composition consists of carefully chosen wood laminations in addition to moisture tolerant adhesives. The general idea behind glulam is the visible beauty and hidden strength where an adhesive is used to bond pieces of timber to be used in utilitarian and decoration purposes.

When the laminated timber was removed from the clamping system, each structural member was polished to ensure the realization of a smooth product. The next stage involved additional finishing to influence the look of the final product but did not affect the strength of the timber in any way, the finished glulam has a fire resisting property where the wood resists catching fire.

The form and surface appearance of the building is both sculptural and rich in metaphor.

The proposed elevational style draws on the varied art of innovative packaging design that defines and seduces the consumer into purchasing a particular product or brand, this art has been translated into the form of a contemporary building.

The design studio has been designed to allow the building elevations to respond to the influencing site factors and brief requirements.

The proposed façade treatments are not designed as a homogenous solution, but rather each aspect of the building envelope has been considered in relation to its own context and how it fulfils its purpose.

Whilst each elevation responds to its context and offers the aspired variety, the proposal retains a strong relationship to the schemes inspiration which delivers an elevational response that binds the scheme as a single composition.

The external appearance of the building is in complete unity with the layout, form and scale of the proposal.

The transition from the inspiration behind the scheme into the working of a concept and the final delivery has been uncompromising and follows an intense design collaboration with the key client stakeholders and craftsmen.