The most satisfying part of any build? The time when all the hard work, setting out, preparation and precise making comes together in a heroic couple of days. At a stroke, the form of the building becomes visible. This one is particularly satisfying for me – it’s made on site, from timber grown and milled on site, – with no treatment, processing or transport.

Above: First frame being lifted into place.

Above: First frame up, with second on ground and ready to lift.

Above: Two frames up, Third Frame assembled on the ground and ready to lift.

Three Up.

Above: 4th frame going up.

Above: Truing frames with a plumb bob fashioned from a hammer and a piece of string.

Above: Four frames up. Now ready for secondary structure.

With Alan Matthews, Christopher Matthews, Bernard Twist.

It’s always interested me what kind of drawings you produce to build if you’re working with people you know really well. We often tend to draw too much – particularly when we work under contract, when there’s no margin for doubt. But, when we have the freedom to work differently, a different pattern of drawings emerge… These are pretty much all of the studio drawings to date, always produced on the hoof, on site or in discussion and used for clarification – of detail, set out or lift sequence.