Cover Story: PIVETEAUBOIS

A View to a Thrill

Wier Quay is a beautiful house built on the banks of the River Tamar, near Tavistock in South West England and features a range of timber products from leading French supplier PIVETEAUBOIS.

Image © P.M. Phillips

he new timber-based home was designed for clients A range of timber systems and products were considered from

TMike and Susan Philips, both of whom knew the area traditional oak framing to Canadian Tamarack Larch, as well as a wide well, being keen boating enthusiasts. The plot originally range of techniques from traditional mortice and tenon through to contained a concrete bungalow that had served the CNC-machining and modern stainless steel connectors. The materials couple well as a weekend getaway, providing them with the perfect that were eventually chosen were Pine cross laminated timber (CLT) spot to sail and steam on the river. Having now retired, they desired floor, walls and roof contained within a visible Douglas Fir glulam frame a more comfortable and attractive house where they could stay for – all supplied by PIVETEAUBOIS. The CLT panels and glulam frame were longer and enjoy the countryside and all the river offered. CNC-manufactured in a precision factory environment at the company’s

To create the successful home a collaborative design phase went main production site in Sainte-Florence, France, with a small amount of into great detail with the client to choose the appropriate materials on-site carpentry required to finish the joints, fit metal connectors, and to realise the concept. Wooden House, a specialist timber framing profile some of the timbers before being raised into position. company from the South West of England, John Pardey an awardwinning architectural practice and “A unique aspect of the house was the use of visible Pine PIVETEAUBOIS, worked together CLT for the walls. This is something that is rarely seen in closely, with the aim of all involved to create a wonderful home but also a the UK and gives the house a very distinctive feel.” healthier environment for their client.

“We see our work as humanistic – modern, but tempered by a love of place, traditions and materials – we “This was a super project to be involved with,” says Elisabeth aim for timelessness in our buildings,” says John Pardey. “On all projects Piveteau-Boley, export sales manager UK & Ireland. “The team worked – regardless of scale or budget – we firstly understand the vision and together so well to achieve the design brief and the vision of the objectives of the client and then work very hard to explore options client. A unique aspect of the house was the use of visible Pine CLT to find a solution that exceeds expectations yet remains practical, for the walls. This is something that is rarely seen in the UK and gives achievable and lasting. We always endeavour to use natural materials the house a very distinctive feel. It is a great showcase for this timber to make buildings that work and wear well and provide a richness and species. Alongside our sapwood free Douglas fir glulam and Pine CLT, resonance that endures.” we also supplied grey pressure-treated Douglas Fir cladding, so it

Image © P.M. Phillips

really benefited the client that the architect and timber installer could source all the timber components required for the project from a single supplier. It makes everything so much easier and efficient when you are dealing with one single company.”

The whole house was positioned a short distance from the banks of the River Tamar on a large steel frame that lifted the property above possible flood waters. The main problem encountered was that the narrow lane that led down to the site from the main road meant that the articulated lorries delivering the frame to site would not be able to access it easily. The solution saw the use of a local unoccupied factory where the frame was unloaded and stored and where any final necessary carpentry could be completed. The CLT floor was installed first, before the walls and frames were erected in three sections. The roof was then lifted by crane and dropped into position. Despite minor setbacks the entire frame was erected and complete in just nine days.

Image © P.M. Phillips

“A combination of location, brilliant design and choice of materials made this job a joy to work on,” says Will Bateman, design director at Wooden House. “Despite the initial set-back regarding access we were easily able manage the problem and quickly turned it to our advantage, something we pride ourselves on. Our partners and team worked so hard to realise the Phillips’s dream and it’s wonderful to see it completed and we know they are going to have many happy times at Weir Quay.”

“Sustainable construction is very important to us,” adds Elisabeth. “Not only do projects like this show how flexible timber can be as a building material and meet the huge requirements of low-carbon, energy efficient construction, but it is perfect in creating a natural, organic setting that provides that sense of wellbeing and calmness that we have all be searching for in recent months.”

For more information visit  www.piveteaubois.com/en  www.woodenhouse.ltd  www.johnpardeyarchitects.com

 French CLT, glulam and cladding

PIVETEAUBOIS is a leading French sawmiller and manufacturer of timber products for the construction, landscaping and energy sectors. Our passion for wood has always driven the family mission – to build a durable and sustainable world by making the most of every tree. Construction accounts for 60% of PIVETEAUBOIS’s sawn production with an annual production of glulam, glued solid timber and finger-jointed timber of 50,000m3 plus cladding production of 700,000m2. Sapwood-free Douglas Fir glulam is in strong demand as it offers the same UC3.2 natural durability, mechanical resistance and visual aesthetics as Larch at a lower cost. Grey treated Douglas Fir is increasingly popular while Durapin UC4 treated Pine glulam (brown or green) is used in high risk exterior environments with lamella being pre-treated to UC4 before bonding. All our glulam can be machined and cut to size to customer specifications.

PIVETEAUBOIS added CLT to its engineered product range at the end of 2018 with an annual production capacity of 50,000m3. The HEXAPLI CLT range consists of panels ranging from 60mm to 360mm thick made from sawn timber classified at C18 or C24 and 20, 30 and 40mm thick. The individual panels, for floors, roofs and walls, are machined and delivered to order based on a customer’s 3D model and come in widths up to 3.5m and lengths up to 16m. These are available in visible or non-visible quality, in Pine, Spruce or Douglas Fir with a strong focus on Pine and Douglas Fir, which offer increased mechanical resistance and durability. HEXAPLI CLT panels can be supplied in UC3.2 pressure-treated Pine with lamella pre-pressure treated to UC4. All panels can be coated with our translucent UC2 water repellent PARKA to protect the panels from water ingress and staining during transit and erection and from decay.

PIVETEAUBOIS uses material from local French PEFC-certified forests and the fully automated 10,000m² production facility at its Sainte-Florence headquarters is the first industrial site producing CLT panels in French wood of any significant scale. It has just signed a partnership agreement with Bouygues Bâtiment France Europe (France, UK and Switzerland), the first major construction company to commit to building 30% of its construction projects with French timber by 2030. PIVETEAUBOIS is now Bouygues’ preferred supplier of CLT produced with French timber.

Image © P.M. Phillips