Hall Grove School Pavilion
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This beautiful cricket pavilion is our third architectural commission from Alastair Graham at Hall Grove School. The brief was to build a structure to grace the playing fields, which we think our architect Christopher, has achieved with great success. Pairs of braces in every bay bring rhythm and order to the elevations as well as being structurally important.
The view across the cricket pitch from within the building forms a classic pastoral scene, perfect for an afternoon game of cricket. The central bay has a dormer which will carry the clock when fitted.
We used an early style of carpentry for pitching the roof, as seen here, where the hip rafter lies in the plane of the hip end, and the commons are cut onto it with a simple splay on one side and a compound splay on the other. Note the fanning of the hip jack rafters, a common device in Mediaeval cut roofs.
Classic King post trusses grace the roof structure. Omitting the roofing felt was a deliberate decision to allow the tile and batten to remain visible, an effect we think works really well.
Several design features are noteworthy; an open eave allows the expression of the rafter feet, balusters are set on the diagonal to create an attractive balustrade, and the gablets are fitted with louvres to let light filter into the building at high level.
“"I wanted to drop you a quick note to show my appreciation for your guys efforts today; they were a pleasure to have around the house and worked hard to get the frame up today."
Paul, Contracts Manager
“"Just to say that it looks fabulous, and all who survey it are wonder-struck. Best wishes and many thanks to you all."
Simon, National Trust
“"Just a quick note to say thank you for sending such a great team to do the work. As well as clearly being very hardworking and hugely skilled, Mick, Andy, Clark and Dave were all exceptionally pleasant, considerate and cheerful guys to have around, and as such a huge credit to Green Oak."
Julia, Crabfields Farm
“"We wanted to write to you to express our profound gratitude for the excellent work you have done on our building scheme. It cannot have been easy to pick up the project from another architect when there were still a number of issues unresolved, but you have done so brilliantly and remained calm throughout, even at fraught times. We really do appreciate that you have gone the extra mile for us. We have all enjoyed working with you and have been so impressed with the quality of your work."
Alastair, The Early Years Project
“"Everyone is very impressed with the finished result and I thought I would just take the opportunity of belatedly giving my thanks to you and your team for a job very well done. I have submitted the bridge for a Civic Society award for next year and have every expectation of its success."
P White, Northholt & Greenford Countryside Park Manager