Description:
The 5m x 4m studio is cut into a 1in 3 hillside, self-built in autumn 2003/spring 2004. The studio is made entirely in timber and entirely suspended (walls and floor) from two recycled steel beams beneath the roof, bearing on a previously existing concrete retaining wall at the top (back) of the slope and blockwork piers at the front.  

Elements:
Meadow grass and indigenous flowers - on 150mm native clay topsoil

-A geotextile filter membrane

Bauder expanded polystyrene insulating reservoir boards (£11/m2).

1200g polythene root barrier membrane

50mm extruded polystyrene insulation

2 layers polyester fibre reinforced bituminous roofing felt

18mm external grade plywood laid to 1:40 falls

250 x 50 tanalised FSC softwood joists

Single 75mm roof outlet to internal downpipe draining to stone filled soakaway pit. Summer irrigation is by a redirected roof downpipe and bath/shower-water drainage stack

Lessons learned included that a 150mm soil layer is too shallow and needs to be watered during extended periods of hot dry weather. Also cutting grass too early in season inhibits the regermination of less hardy flowers, while- cutting grass too late in season leaves roof looking bare through the winter

Location:

Sheffield, S8