The Western Observatory
An unusual observatory designed for a steep slope with far-reaching views, this modular design provides ample room for a workshop and storage in its large warm room.
This imposing design makes the most of the views to the South, by elevating the observatory floor above the downhill slope by almost a metre, taking advantage of its position away from the boundary by making the most of the ‘permitted development’ maximum height of three metres for a flat-roofed structure.
The Western Observatory is host to a number of design firsts for us: it’s the first to have a glazed UPVC entrance door, affording the warm room a big thermal advantage, with a matching French window looking toward the main house. It also features dimmable red and white LED lighting built into the walls on either side, giving controlled illumination without affecting the user’s dark adaption.
They aren’t cheap but they deliver very good quality and so you get what you pay for. I am confident it will outlast me. I am also confident that if there were any problems he will be very responsive. I can recommend Outsideology with absolute confidence.
EPDM FLAT ROOF
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.
Hardieplank Cladding
James Hardie’s HardiePlank cladding has proven very popular for our observatories. It’s a fibre-cement cladding designed to have the appearance of painted cedar, and is available in a range of over 30 colours. Its particular qualities of dimensional stability and longevity make it the perfect choice for those wanting a beautifully consistent and long-lasting finish.
Built-In LED Lighting
Our latest observatories feature striking red and white LED light built into the walls! The separately-switched red and white strips are driven by very high quality power supplies and use a Varilight VPro dimmer, allowing them to be dimmed to almost nothing – so you can have as much or as little light as you wish. Building them into the walls means no bulky fittings or obstructions, maximising the space in your observatory.
| Overall Size (mm): | 4800 (L) x 2400 (W) x 2999 (H) |
| Observatory Size (Internal, mm): | 2190 (L) x 2190 (W) x 1600 (H) |
| Warm Room Size (Internal, mm): | 2286 (L) x 2190 (W) x 1830 (H) |
| Total length including frame (mm): | 4800 |
| Roof type: | Flat (Pent) roofs, separate warm room roof |
| Exterior Cladding: | HardiePlank – “Khaki Brown” |
| Interior Wall Lining: | OSB3 |
| Roof Covering: | One-piece EPDM rubber membrane |
| Roof Pitch: | <1 degree |
| Additional Features: | Shelving, desk and bench in warm room LED lighting |
| Location: | South West England, UK |
| Completed: | July 2020 |
| Approximate Project Cost*: | £13,200 |
* Approximate project cost does not include VAT, haulage, groundworks, telescope or pier, and represents what a similar project might cost if completed now, including any improvements to our base specification.
I am absolutely delighted with the rolling roof observatory from Neil. The process started with a consultation then design. He listened carefully and advised. The height of everything had to be just right to allow the scope to go under the rolling roof but then high enough for me to view the sky to low level including mercury when it appears after sunset in the west. Neil’s obsession with the detail delivered this perfectly. He came to assess the slope then to install the base concrete blocks, then the observatory, then the pier (delayed by COVID). He has clearly developed considerable expertise in what needs to be installed where and when including electrics (lights, switches and sockets) shelves, work surfaces and insulation. We had a choice of cladding including colour which kept my wife happy. I can now pop in for short viewing sessions when cloud clears temporarily and sit in the warm room with the Dimplex heater during frosty nights. There is a channel for cables from the pier to my computer in the warm room so I can install more as needed.
Robin Arnold
Neil dealt with everything and kept me informed at every stage. He pressed on even when COVID interfered with supplies of materials.
He and his assistants were friendly and efficient and they left everything tidy. It has been completely weatherproof through driving rain and howling gales.
They aren’t cheap but they deliver very good quality and so you get what you pay for. I am confident it will outlast me. I am also confident that if there were any problems he will be very responsive. I can recommend Outsideology with absolute confidence.
The only problem is that when I roll back the roof the stars are often hidden by clouds. If he could sort that one out………