Mary Hare School
Thermowood (Redwood)
Set within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Mary Hare Primary School and Boarding House was designed to be an exemplary teaching, learning and living environment for deaf children. The curved classroom block provides each of the six classrooms with long views across the landscape and encloses a half-moon shaped courtyard providing a more protected external space for outside play and learning.
Connecting to the existing Secondary school, the building is set into the hillside and woodland beyond, with nature providing an integral reference point for the design. Black coated timber was used as the main cladding on the boarding house, visually connecting this to the school building whilst also creating its own strong identity. Timber was specified to create a beautiful backdrop to the natural colours within the landscape and enhance the local vistas.
Sourced from leading Finnish sawmills, Millworks Thermowood is a high-performing, durable timber. The patented thermal modification process, which uses no harmful chemicals or toxins, creates a board that is less likely to warp, twist or cup. The low moisture content also achieves a versatile finish when machined.
Thermowood offers superior performance when paired with a surface texture and factory coating. Wire brushing enhances the natural grain and structure of the timber and provides increased adhesion for Millcoat factory coatings. Applied under controlled conditions, Millworks coating line produces consistent results for enhanced product performance and longevity.
“The Millworks timber product was chosen for its durability, stability, low maintenance, and of course it’s aesthetic. Millworks were extremely knowledgeable and helpful throughout the design and specification process.”
Andrew Firfield – Associate Director, Architecture PLB
Andy Spence – Contracts Manager, Beard Construction
