A timber and steel studio by Cowper Griffith Architects sits lightly on its sensitive north Norfolk site
A lightweight cabin, designed by Cowper Griffith Architects, provides a studio and retreat space on a protected grassland site on the north Norfolk coast near King’s Lynn. The dynamic coastal area comprises fragile habitats of salt marsh, reed beds, and flood-plain grazing marsh, which lend a sense of tranquility outside the area’s tourist season. The 37-square-metre Holme Studio comprises timber panels and structural steel elements, all of which were prefabricated offsite.
The site is located beside the river Hun at the edge of an SSSI, along an unmade track to a national nature reserve. The project incorporated the restoration of the half-hectare site to native grassland, and the replacement of a dilapidated holiday chalet made from a 1950s concrete sectional building.
Strict planning policy constraints meant that the new retreat was limited to the location and size of the original chalet. The transparent, lightweight character of the cabin arose from a respect for the surrounding landscape, and a desire to minimise the impact on its biodiversity.
The retreat, raised above the flood plain, incorporates a modest living space, a bunk bed and shower room. The dynamic plan form is generated by aligning the south-west wall with a diagonal line of nearby poplar trees, so as to make the most of the space available between the trees.
The large expanse of glazing on the south side, shaded by a cantilevered canopy, faces the view over the river and SSSI. Timber louvres wrap the building on two sides, giving a light, transparent character and also providing privacy to the window openings and timber deck.
Work on site was kept to a minimum to conform with the ecological constraints. The material palette consists of Siberian larch, natural finish aluminium-profiled roof sheeting, and galvanized and stainless steel structural elements. The timber panel structure and structural steel elements were all fabricated off-site. The overall project cost was £157,000.
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