The Pennine Observatory
Displayed at the International Astronomy Show in 2016, and later installed in the North of England, the Pennine Observatory features a unique roof design that rolls away to the rear, rather than over the warm room.
All Content
The Hide Observatory
Our Hide Observatory was commissioned for couple who were both keen astronomers and bird watchers. Our brief was to build an observatory that would make the most of the low Southern horizon but contain a full-height, well-insulated warm room that would double as a bird watching hide.
The Palantir Observatory
For the Palantir Observatory we received a challenging brief from our client – a full-height warm room that would accommodate a man of 6’2″, placed to the side of an observatory that would give good views to to the South and East, with relatively low horizons. The challenge comes from placing the warm room to the side, rather than under the main roof: you need additional height to ensure that the interface between the two roofs is sufficiently water-tight – whilst the height needed to stay within 2.5m to keep the visual impact to a minimum.
Do I need planning permission for my observatory?
Introduction This article comes with a health warning – I’m only going to give you general information here, and it’s always worth checking with your local authority if you are at all unsure of whether you need permission. It’s always best to find out first, rather than be forced to apply retrospectively, and potentially face an…
Dome vs. Roll-Off Roof Observatory – Which is Best?
The question of dome vs. roll-off roof observatory – which is best – has long been an argument with fierce advocates on both sides. For some, a gleaming white fibreglass dome is the very epitome of amateur astronomy – a glistening beacon that makes a clear statement to all who see her. For others, the subtlety of a roll-off observatory is what is required
The Arches Observatory
This elegant but compact 11×7′ observatory was built for a customer on the Welsh coast, and features a small but perfectly formed 3′ warm room as well as a 7′ square observatory.
The Birds Nest Observatory
This unique observatory features an incredible specification for a truly one-off observing experience. Built inside and out in beautiful knotty Western Red Cedar, the Birds Nest observatory features a raised observing area allowing its owner to view the entire night sky whilst seated comfortably in a yacht-style horseshoe seat finished in fine grain leather.
The “Hutch” Observatory
We were commissioned to design the “Hutch” for a local astronomer couple with a wide range of equipment and requirements. Situated in the customers’ back garden, it benefits from excellent open views of the sky, marred only by the location of a single poorly-sited streetlight.
The Eastern Horizons Observatory
Our client requested a 10’x8′ observatory to occupy a position in the garden that benefited from very low easterly horizons. With very little artificial light in the area, the only light would have come from the direction of the house (and more specifically the neighbours). In this photo, we can see the view in the East direction, behind the observatory.
The Forest Observatory
The Forest Observatory departs slightly from our usual methodology: generally we avoid placing our observatories on concrete slabs, but in this case, local planning prevented us from laying our usual paving-slab foundations for fear of damage to tree roots: digging was prohibited. As a result, we provided the customer with a precise specification for a concrete foundation which was installed by a local builder and met with the planners’ requirements.