Probably the smallest CLT project we have designed, the  Boathouse is a small two storey house an isolated site in Kerry, Ireland.

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This was a showcase project for the area to demonstrate the capabilities of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and to see what challenges were faced getting the modular structure to such an isolated and restricted site.

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Brief and challenges

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Although small, the design still presented its challenges namely, how to squeeze two storeys (well 1 and a half) into a building that had to remain subservient to the landscape with planning restrictions only allowing the building to be to the height of surrounding vegetation.

This small project required a level of detail and analysis to confirm its stability, while using as little materials as possible. 

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Traditional pitched roof design was not an option here so we used two CLT roof elements mutually supporting each other at the ridge.

We worked closely with the CLT supplier, to determine the thinnest CLT that couldbe used to transfer the horizontal loads to the gable ends, imposing internalbending stresses both in plane and out of plane of the CLT wall.  

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