New Build Timber Frame House in Holland Park, London

In February 2016 we were contacted by our client to tender for the timber frame new build in Holland Park which is to be a contemporary three bedroom house on a private mews.

After the lengthy tendering process and visits to site, we were able to commence manufacture of the timber frame in our factory and started on site in November 2017.

The access to the site is very restricted and with no parking, we had to work around this using our drop side truck for delivering the panels, joists and other materials. No cranes or telehandlers were able to be used on this site, so all lifting was done manually.

Using timber frame panels for the construction, with their versatility, meant the panels could be delivered on a much smaller truck than a 40ft lorry as the road to the site would not allow for this style of vehicle. With no lifting equipment on site, including telehandler or crane, the teams lifted the panels to where they were to be installed. Using timber frame for construction allows for large areas of wall space to be installed in a much quicker time than other construction methods. The panels are much lighter in weight so can be lifted and fixed into place, even with no access to the sides of the building at this particular site and only the use of a genie lift for the heavier items (steels) the teams worked under very difficult circumstances and got the construction completed in an efficient and timely manner.

Above is a photo from the beginning of the demolition works depicting the tight access.

To give an idea of the finished home, the clients had a 3D drawing (above) completed showing the contemporary design with clean white rendering to the external face with metal cladding feature walls and a living wall to the first floor terrace.

Due to the new build being surrounded by taller buildings the property will feature roof lights to allow light into the top floor bedrooms and stairwell. Below are some photos of the roof construction which we have completed.

Due to the design of the structure and the limited space, the structure for the ground and first floor was in the main part steel with infill timber frame panels. The second floor was constructed using timber frame panels and you can see the buildup of the different floors with the photos below.

An internal view of the ground floor shows the steel structure fixed to the concrete base where a car turntable will also feature to allow the home to have private parking. Above the steels to create a new floor level, our posi metal web joists are installed with flooring on top.

A birds eye view of the new floor level and the first floor which again has a steel structure and infill timber frame panels. Below left is another birds eye view. Below is an inside view looking upwards and outwards.

With the infill panels installed and another floor level created above ready for the second floor panels the team could then install the timber frame panels which formed the entire second floor.

With the panels installed the posi metal web joists were used to form the flat roof which finishes the second floor ready for the external roof finish.

Our team is finishing off the last of the snagging items over the next few days and the last of the Magply board to the external face of the walls ready for the external render to be installed.

If you have a project with restricted access or are concerned the pre-fabricated panels won’t suit your project, do still get in touch with ourselves as we can advise ways of working around this and providing an alternative system.

Please get in contact with us on 0118 971 2181 or email us at info@vision-dsl.com with your drawings for further discussion.

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