img(height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=2939831959404383&ev=PageView&noscript=1")

Sign up: Mar/Apr

Words:
Richard Doone

Eastern-inspired products from Richard Doone, director at Doone Silver Kerr

In-situ concrete

One of the pleasures of working on projects in Japan over the last 20+ years has been learning first-hand about their mastery of in-situ concrete – and I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with some true craftsmen there. Recently returning after 10 years to one project in the Nasu region, it was wonderful to see how the concrete has aged with a rich patina developed over time. We’ve used exposed in-situ concrete quite a bit in our UK projects too, such as at 63 Compton Street in Clerkenwell. It’s robust and timeless.  

Modular construction

Modular construction is becoming increasingly important in our projects. Currently arriving on site we have a 20-room aparthotel project on Lower Marsh in London, where we are recycling shipping containers. Next we are working closely with CIMC, a Chinese manufacturer, on a 300-apartment scheme in Leeds. Each 16m long steel module will arrive at the site fully fitted-out and lifted direct from the lorry on to the building. There are real benefits in reducing site storage, offsite production, quality control and speed of construction. 

Plywood

We’ve used plywood as an interior finish on several projects – for example, wall and ceiling linings to shipping containers, cantilevered balustrading to an in-situ concrete stair and bespoke apartment furniture.  Whether birch-faced, oak-faced, laminate-faced, or stained black, there is a simplicity and flexibility to plywood that, together with its structural properties, especially when bonded into thicker elements, provides a wide range of design opportunities.

Latest

Passionate about public space? The RIBA Journal is inviting architects to take part in an intensive one-day design workshop to develop fresh thinking

Passionate about public space? The RIBA Journal is inviting architects to take part in an intensive one-day design workshop to develop fresh thinking

What architects and specifiers need to know - 6 June 2023

Fall Protection design webinar: compliance, regulations and reducing risk

Ann Nisbet Studio creates a magical ‘building within a ruin’ to take a 2023 RIAS Award, respecting the past life and history of the ruin, and enabling removal of the intervention in future

Ann Nisbet Studio for private client

Page\Park resolves a ‘spatial knot’ of poor accessibility and a traffic roundabout with its scheme for the University of Stirling

Page\Park Architects for University of Stirling

At Half of Eleven, a regenerated croft on the Isle of Skye by Dualchas Architects, you can enjoy the dramatic weather without leaving the house – one factor that led to its 2023 RIAS Award

Dualchas Architects for Claire and Rory Flyn