Canolfan Tyfu

Canolfan TyfuThe Ty Unnos system was developed by Coed Cymru and partnersto accommodate the characteristics of fast growing, low densityhomegrown Sitka spruce.Canolfan Tyfu, Classroom forGrowing the Future, NationalBotanic Garden of WalesThe projectA single storey multi-use building foreducational and social uses built for theGrowing the Future educational project.The building has two large classrooms withwalk in storage, a large foyer and two wetrooms.“Ty Unnos, ‘a house inone night’ owes its originsto the Welsh tradition oferecting a house overnighton vacant land and claimingit as a home. The name waschosen to convey a fast andadaptable building systemmaking use of local materialand local labour.”www.wfbp.co.uk

Construction methodTy Unnos offsite construction system. Box beams werefactory assembled into portal frames and fitted with metalfeet and waterproof membrane, then transported to siteand craned into position, enabling fast and weather-proofconstruction onsite.The hollow section beams and panels maximise insulationand minimise thermal bridging - fully insulated withWarmcel ® 500. Cladding in larch, with natural andscorched finishes.The timber storySitka spruce is the most readily available softwood resourcein Wales, but until recently has been most widely used forpallets, fencing and carcassing.By engineering standard sizes into strong, stablecomponents - a hollow box section beam and a smallsection ladder beam – the Ty Unnos components have beenable to demonstrate higher value uses for Welsh spruce,proving adaptable in both domestic and non-domesticbuildings.Structure: (box beams, ladder beams and floor joists):home-grown C16 Sitka spruceCladding: Welsh larchThe teamClient:Architect:The National BotanicGarden of WalesHughes ArchitectsContractor: Elements Europe LtdOffsitemanufacturer: Kenton Jones LtdOn sitebuild:G Adams ConstructionDate of completion& costDecember 2013; £1120/m 2 PSupplierHomegrown C16 Sitka spruce:Pontrilas Timber, HerefordWelsh larch cladding: Broadoak,Welshpool,oDownload fact sheet hereImages: courtesy of Hughes Architects