In Spring 2022 we manufactured a set of very unique timber connectors for Xylotek Ltd, who were working on a community Shelter project in Westonbirt Arboretum, for Forestry England. Our standard timber connectors are usually made square with a shoe set at a 90 degree vertical pitch but the specification for this project required a range of connectors with parallelogram bases, custom pitches, on a skew. To overcome the acute angles instead of bending the shoes on a press brake we ended up setting our experienced welding team to the task.

The previous community shelter had to be dismantled in 2017 as it was no longer fit and safe to be used but the need for a community shelter was still necessary. In winter 2021 that architect Piers Taylor from Invisible Studio and engineers from Format Engineers got together with Forestry England and Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum to create this amazing new community shelter.

The shelter was designed to be more than just a functional building but one that fits aesthetically into the landscape. The structure is made from a combination of sustainable and recyclable materials, the oak frame being sourced from the mill in Silk Wood where the shelter is situated.

Xylotek was contracted to fabricate the oak lath gridshell made up of a series of complex arches and bracing. The arches and frame work are fixed to the ground with 9 custom timber connectors, supplied and manufactured by our team at Stainless UK.

While our contribution is small in part, we are still very proud and thankful to be part of such an amazing project.

Photos by Martin Phelps