model view of grand designs project

The Westructure Sugar Cube - Steel and Timber Frame Project

"What a Frame!   A piece of perfection."   said Kevin McCloud on Grand Designs.

as featured on the Channel 4 programme Grand Designs - 'The Modernist/Minimalist Sugar Cube'.

Martin Pease a commercial architect, with his wife Katherine and two children, has designed and built an open plan house where the whole house and everything in it is white and 'very square'.

Using Martins ideas and design Westructure produced detailed CAD 3d image designs and drawings to take in the structural, environmental and conceptual requirements.
This allowed the prefabrication of the steel and timber frame components to be produced to exacting standards.


how the timber framed construction will look


Channel Four sugar cube house building
Quoting from the programme Kevin McCloud remarked "The steel was beautifully made... the steel just fitted... it just slotted into place in a few hours."
Continuing "This timber frame that is going in... which in itself is absolutely true... fits the steelwork - like a Dutch Boy's finger fits into a leaky dyke."
"Its such a pleasure to witness a project that runs so smooth, it allows its owners to leisurely shop for kitchens."

Pictures of the way the house was constructed - place cursor on thumbnail images to see full size.

Erection of the steel structure begins

Erection of the steel structure begins Erection of the steel frame structure

and continues.. The panel ringbeams arrive on site and are attached the steel frame ringbeams so that the timber frame can be erected

The panel ringbeams arrive on site and are attached the steel frame ringbeams so that the timber frame can be erected. the steel ringbeams are inplace to guide our timber frame panels to form it's shape

As you can see from this photo, the ringbeams are inplace to guide our timber frame to form it's shape. steel ringbeams erection to guide the timber framed structure to form it's shape

Continued..... Westructure timber frame building arrives on site

Our timber frame arrives on site ... timber frame delivery to building site

... and is mechanically lifed off of the rigid lorry using hiab equipment.
Timber panels are placed in the correct positions onto our pre-installed soleplates

Timber panels are placed in the correct positions onto our pre-installed soleplates. View of steel frame ready for timber frame panels

View of steel frame ready for timber frame panels. Part of the prefabricated posi joist walls are delivered and lifted off the lorry using a crane

Part of the prefabricated posi joist walls are delivered and lifted off the lorry using a crane. Top of steel frame construction

Top of steel frame. Posi joist walls are mechanically lifted into place

Posi joist walls are mechanically lifted into place. Steel frame upper floor

Steel frame upper floor. Here we can see a finished wall of the timber frame structure

Here we can see a finished wall of the timber frame structure.
Once the external walls of the timber frame are erected, our team of erectors continue with the internal walls

Once the external walls of the timber frame are erected, our team of erectors continue with the internal walls. The roof was also formed using lattice posi joists

The roof was also formed using posi joists. Here you can see an internal partition to the left and on the right you can see the internal balcony that overlooks the feature window

Here you can see an internal partition to the left and on the right you can see the internal balcony that overlooks the feature window. Showing the posi joists that form the first floor, internal partitions, the roof structure and part of the stairwell

Showing the posi joists that form the first floor, internal partitions, the roof structure and part of the stairwell. View from first floor looking towards feature window

View from first floor looking towards feature window. The house stairwell adds definition to the building, leading to the first floor that over looks the feature window and the ground floor

The house stairwell adds definition to the building, leading to the first floor that over looks the feature window and the ground floor. Once the timber frame is erected, the walls are insulated and plasterboarded; the flooring is then installed

Once the timber frame is erected, the walls are insulated and plasterboarded; the flooring is then installed.
The roof structure

The roof structure. Once the roof was in place, sarking is installed to add strength and rigidity to the roof

Once the roof was in place, sarking is installed to add strength and rigidity to the roof. The large glass window that transforms the house

The glass window that transforms the house. The back of the grand designs house

The back of the house. The big glass feature window

The big glass window. View from upstairs to the ground floor

View from upstairs. The sliding internal glass doors

The sliding internal glass doors.
The rear of the house showing external rendered walls

.......... Pete doman at the grand designs sugar cube house

.......... The timber frame house is approaching completion

.......... CAD 3d image showing wall structure (each colour representing a different component)

CAD 3d image showing wall structure (each colour representing a different component). Complete model of main structure (including the fire)

Complete model of main structure (including the fire). Model design view of upper floor and roof

Upper floor and roof. These 3d models can be rotated and viewed from all angles before a decision is made to continue with production

These 3d models can be rotated and viewed from all angles before a decision is made to continue with production.

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