A 125 year old windmill stump in Suffolk, England has received a fresh lease of life with UK firm Beech Architects turning it into a holiday guesthouse with a viewing pod on top that offers wonderful countryside vistas. When the windmill was built in 1891, it was a major feature of the panoramic landscape but fell into disuse after the loss of its cap and sails. The 60 feet tall converted guesthouse features two bedrooms, a kitchen-diner, bathroom, and elliptical zinc-clad pod, notes Dezeen magazine.Taking a cue from traditional boat-building techniques used for historical caps, the pod resembles an inverted hull structure, supported by ribbed timbers. These timbers were installed using a Kerto timber rib system machine-cut with precision from sheets of stressed ply that can be seen from the inside. The ribs serve a dual purpose, providing the strength to withstand wind loadings while also enabling the architects to create a multi-curving form. 200 zinc panels were used to skilfully cover the exterior, each one customised to fit its curved form.The stump structure of the windmill and tar-coated, solid-brick conical walls made it difficult for the architects to install the new accommodation and structural features. Hence, they tailored everything to suit the curving layout. To improve circulation of air, every floor was rotated from the one below to allow access from the landings of the radial staircase, which spirals around the inside of the mill.The renovation of the mill relied completely on private funding; it was managed by the site owner with the aide of specialist sub-contractors and suppliers. The converted guesthouse has been the recipient of several accolades in the 2016 National Roofing Awards. It also made it to the finals of the Structural Timber Awards' best commercial project last year and was nominated for RIBA Regional Awards 2017.Click here for glimpses of the guesthouse.
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