Gloucestershire, England
The organically shaped timber community shelter by Invisible Studio and Xylotek has opened at The National Arboretum at Westonbirt in Gloucestershire.
The result of a unique partnership between architects Invisible Studio, timber structure specialists Xylotek, community groups, and volunteers and staff from Forestry England, the project was conceived, designed, and constructed alongside community participation.
The project is an inclusive and protective space that demonstrates the benefits of creating architecture in harmony with nature.
Sitting comfortably among its woodland setting, the shelter is made from trees that were intended to be extracted from Westonbirt’s collection as part of its routine woodland management cycle, as well as recycled aluminum signage from the site. This resulted in a small footprint and demonstrates what can be achieved using locally grown and sourced timber.
The design process involved high levels of engagement from the beginning, employing sketches, small models, digital scanning, large-scale mock-ups, and onsite fabrication in order to involve community groups at every stage.
The process involved varying skill sets from the participants, providing a range of opportunities for individuals to join in on traditional green timber carpentry techniques, including steam bending, laminating, and shingle making.
The distinct and innovative hyperbolic paraboloid shape of the shelter offers protection from the elements, while also lending views to the surrounding woodland.
Its aesthetic first appears somewhat “ad hoc,” an intentional decision to allow for inclusive and non-prescriptive space for the groups who will use the shelter.
The community that uses it can feel a sense of ownership, while the participants involved in the building process feel pride in helping make it.
As Piers Taylor, director of Invisible Studio states: “The Community Shelter was conceived as a truly collaborative project, playing to the strengths of a wider team that have worked together on multiple innovative and award-winning projects both at Westonbirt (with the Tree Management Centre) and also with projects at Hooke Park and elsewhere.”
Taylor continues: “The shelter was won as a joint bid between Invisible Studio and Xylotek, and set up so that many others from a variety of community groups would work alongside the consultants on every aspect of the project, creating something ultimately far greater than a project from a single hand.”
Martin Self, director of Xylotek echoes these sentiments: “It’s been a privilege for Xylotek to work with the Westonbirt team and the community groups on this project. It’s been amazing to see how a complex wood structure can be realized with mixed-skill community teams – reinventing techniques normally done in high-tech factories rather than deep in the woods.”
Jude Shackell from Apperley Centre adds: “The real life, interesting, fun and perceived ‘riskiness’ of the shelter build has been hugely motivating for the members of our group. While sometimes being a bit anxious about the tools, they have all had tremendous fun and learned so much. They are moving on eager to learn more and try new things in all areas of their life.”
The community shelter was funded by generous donations from a range of sources, including private individuals and grants, Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum charity, and investment from Forestry England.
Project: Westonbirt Community Center
Architects: Invisible Studio
Contractor: Xylotek Ltd.
Engineers: Format Engineers Ltd.
Client: The Forestry Commission and Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
Photographers: Jim Stephenson and Piers Taylor
