Adventure Whare

The Project

Working with Studio Well Architecture and the engineering team at ENGCO, we had the pleasure of working on a bespoke new build in Castlehill, Canterbury. The homeowners wanted a luxury alpine chalet that they would provide a warm and inviting space all-year-round, even on the coldest of winter days.

The home needed to have an A-frame structure with a mezzanine floor, and flat roofs. PLT panels were specified for the A-frames to provide maximum support for the walls of the home.

The Challenge

With any A-frame structure, it’s vital to have appropriate support in place so that the structure and supporting walls remain solid in place. Normally a mass timber structure like an A-frame needs steel members or plate connections to keep everything upright and in place.

The architects and engineering team wanted to find a solution that enabled the A-frames to be self-supported, while providing a mass timber solution that was cost-effective.

The Solution

Utilising PLT panels, we could provide a solution that allowed the A-frames to be self-supported, utilising only timber screw connections at the apex and the base. Along with accurate shop drawings and a well-coordinated and executed site delivery, we were able to ensure that all panels arrived on time, to the exact specifications required for the project.

With the use of PLT panels we were able to achieve a unique aesthetic that brought the homeowner’s alpine chalet vision to life. The end result is not only structurally sound, but ensured construction overheads were kept to a minimum.