Ullswater Yacht Club
Client: Ullswater Yacht Club
Status: Competition proposal February 2011
Set on the shore of Ullswater in the heart of the Lake District, this new sailing clubhouse derives from the interplay between the sculpted, rugged forms of the surrounding hillscapes and the ethereal lightness of the lake itself.
Its simple palette of materials, based on the local vernacular tradition, are practical, evocative, sustainable and low cost. Larch cladding wraps around the building, the roof and lower level walls are of Westmorland slate and the internal limecrete floors have a rugged texture that allows all rooms to be functional when wet or dry. The building uses Flitch Plate timber construction methods, selected for their robust simplicity.
The angular plan capitalises on the breathtaking views along the length of the lake with the social spaces running the length of the upper level to maximise views and provide an excellent vantage point for race spectators. Only the easily-cleaned surfaces of the changing rooms and a series of informal teaching areas and storage spaces sit below the highwater mark from the floods of 2009.
