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Edwardian Aberdeenshire home given 'pickled' extension

July 23 2015

Edwardian Aberdeenshire home given 'pickled' extension
An Edwardian home in Aberdeenshire has been given a minimalist new look with the addition of a Scandinavian flavoured timber extension, contrasting with the traditional granite of the main house.

Situated to the rear of the home the extension features an open plan living space with floor to ceiling windows and is finished in locally sourced Scots Pine, treated with Kebony to acquire a grey patina with the passage of time.

Mark Williams of HRI Architects said: “Buildings are exposed to extreme weather here in Scotland, so materials need to stand up to the forces of the intemperate climate and the test of time. Timber is an incredibly versatile material with structural strength and visual appeal but there is sometimes a perception that it is not suitable for external materials because of the risk of decay. 

“However, we discovered a number of years ago that you can successfully use timber cladding in Scotland but only if it is carefully considered in terms of material selection and detailing. We use Kebony in many projects; it is ‘pickled’ with a natural alcohol that gives it the robustness required for the often challenging Scottish climate.”

HRI first championed the use of timber in their Forestry Commission offices in Inverness, demonstrating the viability of UK timber for modern construction as an alternative to steel and cement.


images © Markus Photography
HRI promise the facade will not decay, even in exposed coastal locations
HRI promise the facade will not decay, even in exposed coastal locations
Kebony state that the extension will not visibly deteriorate in the Aberdeenshire climate
Kebony state that the extension will not visibly deteriorate in the Aberdeenshire climate

4 Comments

vista
#1 Posted by vista on 23 Jul 2015 at 14:38 PM
i like it! i'm going to look into this Kebony thing. I've used untreated Larch a number of times, but it can be a bit hit and miss. Oh, and that's not floor to ceiling glazing - it's a set of patio doors...
lee bruce
#2 Posted by lee bruce on 23 Jul 2015 at 17:08 PM
Nice extension but I would like to know who does or probably does not proof read your copy Urban Realm ?
Graeme McKirdy
#3 Posted by Graeme McKirdy on 24 Jul 2015 at 09:29 AM
If anyone is in Glasgow, The Lighthouse has a some samples of thermally and chemically modified timber in their (Architecture+Design Scotland) Materials Library. It's a great FREE resource if you've not used it before - http://www.ads.org.uk/sust/activities/material-considerations-a-library-of-sustainable-building-materials-2
Dom
#4 Posted by Dom on 25 Jul 2015 at 10:06 AM
Don't want to name drop but give a certain timber cladding company at Newtonmore (rhymes with fuss-wood) a call. They have well over 100 samples of various timber cladding sample panels, treated and untreated, of varying ages. You can get a really good idea of how it will weather.

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