Escapade Silverstone: Sustainable timber architecture gains traction
Russwood is proud to be supplying custom Lunawood ThermoWood® factory coated in SiOO:X Mid Grey for Escapade Silverstone. Designed to provide motorsport enthusiasts with an exclusive experience of Formula 1, the luxury trackside development consists of 60 private residences and a clubhouse. Read on for more details about this immense feat of sustainable timber architecture.
Qualifying as sustainable
Silverstone Circuit aims to become the most sustainable circuit on the Formula 1 calendar. Escapade’s development, therefore, seeks to achieve BREEAM ‘Very Good’ standard, which places the development in the top 25% of new commercial buildings with regards to sustainability. Russwood worked with Escapade and Twelve Architects to specify a custom Lunawood ThermoWood® cladding solution, factory coated in SiOO:X Mid Grey.
Lunawood ThermoWood®, created by thermally modifying Scandinavian grown Scots Pine using only heat and steam, is a completely natural, sustainable and non-toxic cladding solution which has exceptional durability and stability. Combined with a SiOO:X Mid Grey coating, a natural and non-toxic protective barrier which produces a consistently weathered finish, the exterior facades of Escapade Silverstone contribute significantly to its environmental performance and refined aesthetic.
Timber takes pole position
The combination of Lunawood ThermoWood® and SiOO:X Mid Grey creates exterior facades that are natural yet elegant, with visible wood figuring and round and splay knots. SiOO:X’s beautifully consistent grey tone and elimination of differential weathering links the advanced technology and design from the track to the facades of the development.
The interiors of the sixty residences and clubhouse maintain this rationale, with timber detailing throughout, paired with an organic colour palette of greens, beiges and browns. Surrounded by woodland, Escapade Silverstone is an oasis of environmentally-conscious design. The clubhouse provides guests with a wellness centre, swimming pool, driver-focussed gym, treatment rooms, track-briefing area, state-of-the-art simulator rooms, concierge, restaurant and bar.
Front-row seats
The front-row Residences all have direct views over the circuit. The structure of these residences has been inspired by the notion of ‘Slipstreaming’, where a vehicle follows closely behind another vehicle, travelling in its slipstream and awaiting an opportunity to overtake. These represent the epitome of the development, with striking feature glass and large terraces also clad with timber.
The ‘Countryside’ Residences at the back of the development provide greater privacy and an outlook across woodland and stunning landscapes, whilst the middle-row Residences offer views of both the track and rolling countryside.
The project is still in early build stages, expected to be open for guests from late 2023. We are excited to see the final result and for its contribution to the movement of sustainable timber architecture.
Interested in specifying timber?
Contact our Specification Team for information on the use of timber cladding and other architectural queries. Russwood provide a number of services to assist architects with the specification of timber cladding, decking, flooring and fixings. We also offer CPD’s on external cladding and fire performance.
