COACH Community Hub
Taunton, UK
Details
ABOUT
Millboard UK supplied both Golden Oak and Embered Oak for the Centre for Outdoor Activity and Community Hub (COACH), located on the banks of the River Tone. The new building is a community and sports facility housing classrooms, workspaces, a café and a boathouse to store canoes and kayaks. Architects Reed Holland Associates faced the immediate challenge of designing on a flood plain and the hurdle of getting the design approved by the Environment Agency and Local Authority.
Millboard Golden Oak was chosen for the main facility cladding, due to its stunning natural aesthetic and the added benefit of low-maintenance requirements. Millboard decking provides a high-grip surface for ramps, steps and terrace flooring ensuring that COACH is welcoming, functional and accessible to all.
The boat house was designed to purposely flood when the river’s water level rises above normal. Embered Oak was used to clad the boathouse, due to its impressive water-resistant properties. The architects designed the lower-elevation sections of the scheme with a wider board separation, allowing flood water to flow freely in and out of the building when required.
PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED
Millboard UK
Reed Holland Associates
SWH Construction
PHOTOGRAPHY
Courtesy of Millboard UK
