We are delighted to have won the "Best Use of a Timber Clad System" category at the Facade Awards 2022 in conjuction with our customer A2O Cladding for the Grange Paddock Leisure Centre at Bishops Stortford. Bennetts Timber supplied the Siberian Larch required for the project.
The £22m Grange Paddocks Leisure Centre is a replacement of outdated facilities, set in a beautiful park. A ‘building within the landscape’ is a key design theme.
In addition to a new 25m 8-lane competition pool, the centre offers 2 Fitness Group rooms and a 130-station Fitness Studio. The Fitness rooms overlook the park, and on the ground floor a cafe opens out onto Grange Paddocks park and play areas.
The design with its freeform shape blending into the park landscape, called for curved timber facades – with the backdrop of the sweeping curves set off by a rhythm of dark red window, door and louvre components.
Curves could be created by faceting the timber, however A2O’s carpenters curved the timber itself horizontally, creating a spectacular façade profile against the sky. The results are amazing and worthy of the award.
