Woodland Classrooms, Belvue School, Northolt, West London
School
Project information Introduction
Completion date: October 2017 Belvue School is a secondary school for
children with severe learning difficulties and
Building type: School
a range of other needs. Its site, in Northolt,
Location: Northolt, West London west London, lies next to a small patch of
woodland over which the school has been
Architect: Studio Weave
given custody. With a few trees, shrubs and
Structural engineer: Timberwright undergrowth, the woodland is small and
scrubby, but for the students, many of whom
M&E consultant: Arup
come from nearby blocks of flats, it represents
Main contractor: IMS Building Solutions their only glimpse of nature.
Timber supplier: T Brewer, Lamisell The school needed more classrooms
Timber elements: Roof and wall structure, and were due to be allocated a couple of
internal finish, doors and Portakabins. But the head teacher decided
windows, cladding that her students deserved better. She
considered that a more imaginative solution
Timber species: FSC- and PEFC-certified
Canadian western red could be found in a design which would link
cedar, Douglas fir, the new classrooms and the woodland, to
birch ply provide a richer and more stimulating learning
environment for her students. She raised the
money for the new classrooms independently
so that design direction was not hidebound by
institutional limitations.
The brief was to create 150m2 of extra
curriculum space with a domestic quality and
intimate scale. Studio Weave worked with the
school to develop a ‘collective narrative’ with
the students, to open up imaginative ways of
engaging with the woodland just outside. They
set up a series of story writing and design
workshops; these identified the boundary
between playground and the woodland as the
Case Study
border between familiar school territory and
the ‘magical mysterious world beyond’, with
the new classrooms acting as the gatehouse
and gateway to this magical world.
There are two timber-lined classrooms,
connected by a central covered open space.
One classroom, Cosy Lounge, is used for
workshops but can also be a calm and private
sensory space when required. The other
classroom, Sociable Kitchen, acts as a café
with a food preparation area and space for
group dining; it aims to encourage and inspire
students to take on extra responsibilities
and develop independent living skills. Both
classrooms have full height glazing on the
woodland side so that students can become
aware of the changing weather and seasons.
The timber-lined covered space between
the classrooms, Messy Barn, is for outdoor
learning, whatever the weather.
The gables are clad with cedar boards and
fitted with large cedar sliding doors which
open to give access to the woodland, or close
to create a more intimate space. Smaller doors
are set within them to give secondary access.
For Studio Weave, timber was the clear choice
both for construction and cladding, reflecting
the woodland context and with the ability to
create a building with a domestic and non-
threatening quality.
1
Woodland Classrooms, Belvue School, Northolt, West London
School

Site plan Key

1 main school

2 Woodland
Classrooms

3 sliding doors
1
4 alcove seat

5 storage

2 6 kitchen units

7 Cosy Lounge

11 8 Messy Barn

9 Sociable Kitchen

10 woodburning stove

11 woodland

South west elevation

Plan of Woodland Classrooms

4 5
6 9 6

7 8
10

11

Case Study 2
 195*195 195*195 195*195 195*195 195*195

Woodland Classrooms, Belvue School, Northolt, West London

1

School

1
3D diagrams of roof structure

1
4

1
4

4
2

4
3 4

4
2 4

4
4

Key long section through Woodland Classrooms

1 1 1

2 2 3 3 2 2

5 6 7

Key
Key cross section through Messy Barn
1 lantern box truss with
clerestory lights

2 45 x 145mm curved
1 glulam beams at
400mm crs

3 45 x 195mm curved
3 glulam beams at
600mm crs

4 195 x 195mm curved

glulam beams to
gable

5 Sociable Kitchen
9 10
6 Messy Barn

7 Cosy Lounge

8 alcove

9 entrance to classroom

10 sliding doors

Case Study 3
Woodland Classrooms, Belvue School, Northolt, West London
School

The use of timber

Je Ahn, project architect, explains: ‘We wanted
to create a low tech building, using as much
craftsmanship as possible, and as robust
as possible for a timber building’. The two
classrooms and linked semi-outdoor space
are all constructed of timber and together
create an elegant and distinctive form – three
pitched roofs with curved glulam rafters which
rise to raised clerestory lanterns running along
the ridges.

The roofs are covered with standing seam zinc.

The gable walls are clad with PEFC-certified
western red cedar boards, laid vertically; they
were carefully selected for the correct moisture
content and secret-fixed to battens and
counterbattens to act as a rainscreen.

The walls, of highly insulated timber studwork,

are a series of box-like forms which create
storage spaces and alcoves for sitting spaces,
as a recess for a woodburning stove in the
Cosy Lounge, for kitchen appliances in the
Sociable Kitchen, and as storage cupboards
in the Messy Barn.

The classroom entrance doors are at the

sides of the Messy Barn; the lower-ceilinged
timber alcoves create an intimate scale at the
entrances which open up to the curved pitched
roof classrooms, filled with light from the
clerestory above.
The Cosy Lounge classroom is lined with birch plywood, creating a warm, domestic environment.
In the classrooms the curved 45 x 145mm
glulam rafters are lined internally with 12mm
birch ply sheets, bent on site to form the curve
and fixed to the glulams to create a diaphragm.
The ply ceiling was finished with Osmo Polyx
Oil with clear intumescent coating.

At the base the timber structure is fixed to

bespoke stainless steel feet which in turn rest
on helical piles. Piles were used to reduce
the building’s impact on adjacent trees; to
accommodate the slope of the ground and to
ventilate the timber frame, the building is raised
off the ground on the north side and accessed
with steps.

Gables are clad with western red cedar boards, laid vertically.

Case Study 4
Woodland Classrooms, Belvue School, Northolt, West London
School

The Messy Barn has an exposed roof structure of curved glulam beams.
The structure
Andrew Trotman, project structural engineer ‘The roof structures are supported via structural
and director of Timberwright, describes the ridge beams in the form of timber frame box
structure: trusses defined by the roof lantern zone,
spanning between the gable ends. These
‘Timber frame was proposed as a lightweight
trusses in turn support the upper end of the
and sustainable construction material that
concave glulam rafters. This structural system
could be realised on site using predominantly
eliminates any lateral thrust at the foot of the
manual labour.
rafters onto the wall plates, and the associated
‘The building consists of a timber frame need for internal ties across the roofs.
suspended floor and superstructure,
‘The roofs and floor plate act as structural
supported clear of the ground on small
diaphragms via OSB/plywood sheathing to
diameter bored piles. The floor and wall
provide adequate racking stiffness on plan.
panels were specified in standard treated
softwood sections that could be fabricated ‘The glulam rafters and box truss components
and assembled on site, where access for were manufactured off-site in whitewood by
panels made off-site was not feasible. Lamisell. The weight of each box truss was
such that it could be erected using Genie
‘Open panel constructed walls provide stability
hoists onto the prepared wall supports.
in both directions via the external sheathing;
Exposed framing in the glazed gable ends
the woodland gable ends are predominantly
was fabricated in fresh sawn UK Douglas fir.’ Each classroom ceiling rises to a raised clerestory
glazed/open and the stability is maintained in
lantern at the ridge.
this transverse direction by additional discreet
‘buttress walls’ in the fit-out zone of the external
and internal walls.

Case Study 5
Woodland Classrooms, Belvue School, Northolt, West London
School

3D view of lantern box truss

10

Key

Detail section through lantern box truss and curved roof 1 lantern box truss
of 120 x 120 struts,
2 posts and cross
beams

2 zinc roof covering

3 with standing seams

4 3 underlay on
timber purlins with
ventilated void

5 4 breather membrane
1 on 140mm rigid
insulation
7
5 vapour control layer
on 18mm birch ply
lining

6 double glazed timber

6 clerestory window

7 insect mesh

8 WBP ply deck on

50mm timber purlin
7 9 breather membrane
on 85mm curved
rigid insulation

10 line of 45 x 145mm
2 curved glulam beam
10
11 140mm flexible
9
8 mineral wool
11 insulation
12
12 vapour control layer
on 12mm birch
plywood diaphragm

Case Study 6
Woodland Classrooms, Belvue School, Northolt, West London
School

Large windows on the woodland side of the classrooms reflect the changing weather and seasons.

Sustainability
The building is almost entirely constructed of
PFC and PEFC-certified sustainable timber.
The stack effect created by the curved pitched
roof form allows the classrooms to be entirely
naturally ventilated. The classrooms are
thoughtfully orientated to maximise sunlight
and avoid overheating. They are also fully
wheelchair accessible.
Every effort was made to involve the students
in the design and construction of the building.
The classrooms are fitted with shelves where
students can display the crafts they have
made and the sink splash-back is of tiles
made by the students.
Studio Weave worked with a forest
management specialist to develop
a woodland strategy to ensure good
maintenance and sensitive upkeep of the
woods. The woodland strategy aims to bring
benefits to the wider community, by improving
biodiversity in the area and addressing the
effects of the busy A-road that runs along the
back of the woodlands.
Awards
Winner, Wood Awards, Education & Public
Sector, 2018
Winner, RIBA London Award 2018
Winner, RIBA London Client of the Year 2018
Winner, AJ Architecture Awards 2018: Project
of the Year

Case Study 7
Woodland Classrooms, Belvue School, Northolt, West London
School

About TRADA
The Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA) is an internationally recognised
centre of excellence on the specification and use of timber and wood products.

TRADA is a company limited by guarantee and not-for-profit membership-based organisation.

TRADA’s origins go back over 80 years and its name is synonymous with independence and
authority. Its position in the industry is unique with a diverse membership encompassing companies
and individuals from around the world and across the entire wood supply chain, from producers,
merchants and manufacturers, to architects, engineers and end users.

Our aim
To provide members with the highest quality information on timber and wood products to enable
them to maximise the benefits that timber can provide.

What we do
We seek to achieve this aim through active and on-going programmes of information and research.
Information is provided through our website, an extensive collection of printed materials and our
training courses.

TRADA
t +44 (0) 1494 569601
f +44 (0) 1494 565487
e membership@trada.co.uk
w trada.co.uk

© Warringtonfire Testing and Certification Ltd 2019

BM TRADA, part of the Element Group, provides a comprehensive range of independent testing,
inspection, certification, technical and training services. We help our customers to make certain
that the management systems, supply chain and product certification schemes they operate are
compliant and fit for purpose.
BM TRADA is TRADA’s appointed provider for its research and information programmes, and for
the administration of its membership services.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the advice given, the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage
arising from the use of the information supplied.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

Photography: © Jim Stephenson
Drawings: © Studio Weave (Page 3 at top and Page 5
at top © Lamisell)
BM TRADA
Chiltern House Stocking Lane Hughenden Valley High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP14 4ND UK
t +44 (0) 1494 569600 f +44 (0) 1494 565487 e bmtrada.com/bookshop w bmtrada.com

Case Study 8