The Oxford Observatory
Designed for a large independent school, this observatory is a 12′ x 7′ single-room observatory with a simple design and a pent roof, designed to accommodate up to 12 children and two staff members.
Evident in this photo is the height of the suspended floor – a full 250mm above ground level, allowing plenty of natural ventilation underneath – one of the major ways that we ensure our observatories are ‘dry by design’. This was subsequently proven during one of the wettest years since records began.
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The sides are build from two separate panels, giving additional rigidity thanks to the frame that is formed by the upright posts and the (hidden) horizontal members at the top – particularly important in this case as the observatory sits in an exposed location within the school fields. glazed internal door provides a means of viewing the telescope from the warm room, and ‘checkerplate’ stair-nosings provide a hardwearing finish to the stepped doorways.
The interior includes electrics and lighting, and a pier mounted toward one end which now accommodates the school’s telescope. The pier is an Altair Astro model, which allows mounting of almost any type of telescope.
EPDM FLAT ROOF
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Our ‘flat’ roof (it has a slight angle to allow rainwater to drain off) is covered with a single-piece EPDM rubber membrane. The lack of any joints means there’s no leaks, and the tough rubber membrane resists damage by impact or weathering, resulting in an expected 50-year lifespan. Where appropriate, we’ll fit a gutter on the low side to channel water away safely to the ground.
OSB Lined
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Our standard interior wall lining is Oriented Strand Board (OSB) – also know as ‘Sterling Board’. We use it because it’s moisture-resistant, very strong and secure. The quick way to break into a building with timber cladding is to pull off a few planks – if you did that with one of our observatories, you’d be met with the same board used to board up empty buildings!