From little acorns…

Landmark architectural project shows why Decospan Querkus has become one of the UK’s most sought-after premium veneers.

Very occasionally, a material that seamlessly balances style, substance and sustainability comes onto the market. Decospan’s Querkus, a luxurious oak-veneered panel, is one such product.

Nowhere is this better demonstrated than in a recent, groundbreaking architectural project, Taigh na Coille – meaning ‘House of the Wood’ -, a strikingly modern holiday home in the Northernmost wilds of Sutherland, Scotland, where Querkus was used across almost the entire interior. The perfect celebration of this astonishing décor’s unique attributes it’s, perhaps, the largest specification of Querkus on a UK residential project

Crucially, it was also a material which helped the project team overcome almost every challenge associated with an unusual and highly specific brief, to deliver a modern and ultra-stylish modular building with a seamless interior, located in an incredibly remote location.

Available from James Latham, the UK’s leading independent timber, panels and decors distributor, Querkus has become a firm favourite with specifiers aiming to achieve the look and feel of solid timber, yet with a smaller carbon footprint, extra strength and higher resistance. 

As Thomas Fitzgerald, from WT Architecture (WTA), which designed Taigh na Coille explains, “The requirements were as ambitious as they were challenging. We had to deliver a low-carbon building in an extremely remote location that felt contemporary and rooted in its context. Right from the beginning, we and our clients agreed that the building should feel almost entirely built and finished in sustainable timber.”

“The project had other unique stipulations, from being built as a modular, easily demountable structure to avoiding wet trades. We considered using solid oak planks throughout the interiors, but the associated costs and installation time in such a remote location meant using this material was not an option. Discovering Decospan’s Querkus gave us the ability to create the warmth and feel of solid timber boards in a more sustainable and practical format. A supply solution came through our contractor, Spey, who introduced us to their long-time materials distribution partner, James Latham.”

Achieving on every level

When the James Latham Panels Team was taken through the unusual requirements by WTA, they had a lightbulb moment, instantly recommending Decospan’s Querkus Natural Vivace S1 Veneer as the best solution. The project team was immediately captivated, realising that this decorative finish would achieve the best of all outcomes, from visual appeal to required resilience whilst leaving a very small carbon footprint. 

As James Latham’s Veneer Product Champion, Ed Latham, says, “It was love at first sight for WTA, and I can understand why. Querkus is a truly outstanding product, with veneers manufactured from sustainably harvested European white oak and reclaimed oak timbers, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

“Bonded to an MDF core, cutting-edge manufacturing techniques mean the panels successfully evoke the timeless beauty of natural wood in a lower-carbon format. Not only that, it’s also sturdy, robust and low-maintenance, suitable for finishing and furniture in busy, regularly used interior environments. Simply, it’s one of those rare materials that delivers on every level.”

Getting bold with the fold

WTA also liked that the boards were machine-matched, so could be easily cut to specific shapes without losing aesthetic consistency, enabling them to get really creative when it came to designing Taigh na Coille’s internal look and feel.

As WTA’s Thomas Fitzgerald continues, “To emphasise the modular make-up of Taigh na Coille, we wanted to create an almost ‘origami’-like effect inside as if the occupant was sitting within a folded sculpture. Querkus enabled us to do this, as it is machine-matched, giving the whole space an interesting dual atmosphere of continuity and incongruity. It also possesses a strong dialogue with the building’s other structural and decorative elements. It really brings everything together across the interior, which is why we used it almost everywhere.”

The architects also appreciated the ability to treat the surface with specialist coating, to achieve pockets of striking tonal contrast across the interiors, making certain features, including cabinetry and window seats, stand out by staining them inky black.

Achieving the perfect match, every single time

The results are visually outstanding and a testament to the ingenuity of all those involved in bringing this project from a far-reaching brief on paper to a sustainable, and structurally-ingenious reality.

Looking beyond design and build, the recommendation and use of Querkus for Taigh na Coille also perfectly encapsulates James Latham’s unrivalled reputation for achieving the ‘perfect match’ between project brief and specified materials.

As Angus Reid-Evans, Principal Contractor at Spey Building and Joinery, concludes: "James Latham’s recommendation of Querkus was an inspirational one, and demonstrates a deep understanding of material performance and how it always goes the extra mile to make recommendations which actually fit the brief. From my perspective, the veneer and the consistency of the surface grain simplified the construction process. The panel structure helped us achieve the modular objective, ensuring the building can be easily dismantled and rebuilt if needed. It’s a fantastic material and it played an integral role in the project’s success."

To find out more about Querkus and other Decospan products click here.

To find out more about Spey Building and Joinery Ltd and its services, click here.

To find out more about James Latham, and its full portfolio of products and materials, click here.