A Trip to Bryher
“A rugged yet deeply beautiful island of vibrant contrasts”
That is how the ‘Visit the Isles of Scilly’ website* describes the island of Bryher, adding that it is a “perfect place to enjoy a taste of untamed Scilly.” Having recently had a chance to experience Bryher for ourselves, we would certainly agree with those sentiments.
Our visit may have been for strictly business reasons but that didn’t prevent us from enjoying some stunning views out over the water from our rooftop vantage point. Even the project itself was inspiring, deploying a waterproofing membrane that would then be covered in larch cladding; thereby helping the building to blend in with its surroundings.
It’s a method which is familiar to the architects of this project. Dualchas Architects** may be based at the other end of the British Isles on the Isle of Skye, but they are no strangers to creating building solutions which are in keeping with local surroundings. Indeed their philosophy is based on “architecture which responds to the topography, the climate, and the local culture.” Moreover, their designs also look to the natural environment, designing to “reduce our carbon footprint, protect depleting natural resources, and support long-term ecological balance.”
For this project, built by local builder Phil Spence of Bryher Construction, the roofing system chosen came from ICB, ‘one of the UK’s leading providers of waterproofing solutions.’ ICB not only prides itself on offering sustainable waterproofing solutions, the company has also been carbon neutral for over ten years. One of the benefits of ICB’s alwitra waterproofing products is that they work well not only on flat roofs but also on multi-form shapes. This made alwitra a perfect solution for a roof which was shaped to accommodate larch cladding.
With high thermal and mechanical resistance as well as being resistant to root and rhizome penetration, the ICB solution is also a good choice for a project which is near the sea in a sunny location such as the Isles of Scilly. And with an Environmental Product Declaration which includes a lifecycle assessment, this product is also a good choice for those who are looking towards an environmental and sustainable solution.
From our point of view we were pleased to have been asked to contribute to this imaginative project. And the fact that the weather couldn’t have been better for this installation made our trip to the Isles of Scilly one to remember.
*https://www.visitislesofscilly.com/explore/bryher **https://www.dualchas.com/
