TOP TEAM FOREST HOLIDAYS


The Forest of Dean site features 76 cabins, a shop, bar, restaurant and children's play area


Joanna Hoehenwarter & Peter Gamble, Architect & Senior Partner: Holder Mathias


Why were you chosen by Forest Holidays to design the cabins? Gamble: We were chosen on the back of the work we did for Rank in the 90s, on their rival concept to Center Parcs.


What was the brief? Gamble: To create a cabin which treads lightly on nature and embraces the forest. Forest Holidays wanted us to develop a concept which could be rolled out on a production line. This is an unu- sual position to be in for an architect, but has meant that we can continually refine the cabin design, which has cre- ated considerable cost savings. For instance, the sizes are such to min- imise the amount of plasterboards and roof tiles which need to be cut. [Development director] Richard Palmer is stringent about cost and quality and, very rightly, has pushed us hard.


ISSUE 1 2013 © cybertrek 2013


The cabins all have huge windows, allowing the forest suroundings to take centre stage


What were the challenges? Hoehenwarter: The forest created the biggest challenge, because of the sensitive flora and fauna. Before masterplanning each site, we have to under take ecological assessments, look at the habitats and study the for- est in all seasons.


Gamble: Working closely with the con- tractor from an early stage led to innovations like minimising the number of vehicles on site. So the cabins are made off-site, stacked onto a lorry in the correct order and assembled with minimum fuss. Everything else is brought in by hand.


Describe the cabin design? Hoehenwar ter: They have two vol- umes, one houses the large living space at the front, which really


Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 59


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