Driving the hospitality industry to new places
“This is probably the best place in the world to watch a Formula 1 car. It’s nuts – I can see nine corners from here,” says British racing driver Jenson Button. He’s talking about Escapade Silverstone, a novel hospitality experience with a front-row seat at the world-famous race course and home of Formula One (F1).
Launched in spring 2024, this immersive hotel and restaurant serves motorsport enthusiasts unbeatable views of the track and the surrounding countryside, alongside a selection of premium facilities. Among these is the heart of Silverstone’s social scene, the Clubhouse, as well as a driver-focused gym, pool, sauna, restaurant, bar and roof terrace.
“Escapade Silverstone started out with one main aim: to be the ultimate trackside destination,” says Will Tindall, founder of Escapade. “Everything we create has to enhance the location and the experience of Silverstone Circuit.”
Together with Twelve Architects and HG Construction, Russwood products have helped drive this unique venue to legendary status.
Timber use on a mass scale
Quality cladding was key to ensuring cohesiveness between the track, venue, and countryside. Escapade Silverstone’s architecture elevates not just individual elements of its location, but the entire ecosystem.
“We felt early on that timber would help visually tie the structures together and blend more harmoniously with the surrounding landscape,” says Will, who, alongside his team at Escapade Living, arrived at Russwood’s Lunawood in Mid-Grey for the site.
Now over 150,000 linear metres of this thermally modified timber clad the site, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
Sustainable and durable: it’s history in the making
Hailing from 100% PEFC™ certified forests in Finland, Lunawood is rooted in sustainability: a vital component of the material selection process for Escapade Living.
“Timber can be a sustainable approach even at scale,” says Will. “Finland grows 108 million m3 of forest area per year, felling just 83.5 million m3 in the same period, which means the forests are growing faster than they are used.”
Lunawood is only treated with heat and steam, and it can be coated with SiOO:X Wood Protection, a natural product which we apply in our factory. “No chemicals,” says Will. “[Lunawood’s and SiOO:X’s] non-toxic qualities allow for recycling after use… maintaining the highest eco credentials throughout from growth stage to end of life.”
SiOO:X eliminates differential weathering to create a uniform finish – keeping this a first-place destination for years to come.
Specifier Tip: Versatile tongue and groove profiles make Lunawood a great choice for projects of any size that seek a contemporary aesthetic.
As experts in their field, it has been a pleasure to work with Russwood on selecting the correct product. Through testing, sourcing samples and undertaking site visits with us until we were satisfied, Russwood ensured that our construction, environmental and architectural teams were kept informed and educated on the product.
Will Tindall, Escapade Silverstone Founder
A development shaped by the magic of F1
Escapade Silverstone is an F1-inspired venue, meaning the design choices – every angle, cladding board and piece of furniture – circle around the magic of F1 history’s most memorable corners, and the record-breaking laps yet to come. This is true of all the buildings, from the electric Clubhouse, where floor-to-ceiling windows frame the action, to the accommodation.
“The trackside residences are angled towards the best views of the track from each spot, and the residences behind step down in height and scale as you retreat from the tarmac,” says Will.
Lunawood’s simplicity helps spotlight Twelve Architects’ design mastery. Bold shapes and cantilevered buildings maximise the development’s proximity to the track. Board-fin arrangement and solar shading fins also create dynamic shadows and allow natural light to filter indoors to the 60 private residences, which began welcoming guests in summer 2024.
“Having a consistent finish on crisply detailed timber is a key part of the luxurious feel of our architecture and sets the tone for the quality expected of our interiors,” says Will.
Residents can choose from three accommodation types:
- The Trackside residences are three or four-bedroomed residences which sit just 12 metres from the crash barrier fence, offering excitement from the front edge.
- Dual Aspect residences offer the best of both worlds: with up to four bedrooms and a roof terrace, they have a vertical layout that delivers views over the track and the surrounding countryside.
- The Countryside residences are four-bedroom apartments that enjoy endless views over the Northamptonshire countryside, maintaining access to the action without compromising on peace.
Smart design means all residences can be adapted to become smaller apartments, giving every guest who steps foot in Silverstone Escapade an even more bespoke experience.
This vast, internationally renowned development is one we remain proud to have supplied.
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Dimensional stability, durability and sustainability makes Lunawood a long-lasting and beautiful choice.
