Welcome to our portfolio, in which we present a selection of our previous roll-off roof observatories. Because everything we build is custom-designed for each individual customer and their equipment, there’s no ‘standard’ observatory, but these designs might give you some ideas for your own project. If you’re ready to talk to us about your project, why not contact us with details of your ideal observatory.

The Border Observatory
Observatories

The Border Observatory

The Border Observatory is a 12×7′ observatory featuring an 8×7′ observatory and 4×7′ warm room, clad entirely in our standard tanalised shiplap cladding. This unique design features a rolling apex roof, which rolls off onto rails which join the observatory to the wall of the owner’s garage, whilst carrying the armoured power cable to the building.

The Larch Observatory
Observatories

The Larch Observatory

For the Larch Observatory, we adopted a reductionist approach to design at the request of the owner: simplicity would be key, with minimal external features, clean lines, perfect symmetry and even the roofline to be simplified with a level, square frame disguising the required slope.

The Hide Observatory
Observatories

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
Observatories

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.

The Birds Nest Observatory
Observatories

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 Eastern Horizons Observatory
Observatories

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
Observatories

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.

The Clandon Observatory
Observatories

The Clandon Observatory

The Clandon Observatory is another split-level design – but unlike the Hillside Observatory it doesn’t appear so – the horizontals have been kept consistent externally, and the observatory is specifically designed to minimise its visual impact – both for the owners and their neighbours.

Not found what you’re looking for? Remember each of our roll-off roof observatories is bespoke designed for our customers’ garden, equipment and observing style. We’d be delighted to discuss your requirements and provide you with both drawings and pricing for your perfect home observatory – visit our contact page to start the conversation.