The Japanese Boathouse

The development of the project’s connection details and specification was in collaboration with Jeremy Ashworth of Ashworth Parkes Architects who led as principal architect, with the intention of utilising Japanese techniques of complex wood jointing to avoid the use of mechanical fixings i.e. screws, nails or bolts.

Instead, all joints were secured with either drawn round pegs or square pegs in round holes. This was also enabled by the architect’s design which had minimal joints that were adapted to take weight and wind loadings into consideration.

Local English larch from Somerset and Devon woodlands was specified to reduce transportation and draft sketches were produced early in the process to give a deeper understanding of the materials and finishes.

Once handcrafted in Carpenter Oak’s Devon workshop, it was taken to site and raised by the clients, their architects and friends in a true “barn raising” community style event. 

UK sawn larch was used to sheath the roof and is visible from inside. The exterior of the boathouse is finished with a timber rain screen and a copper roof, which was fixed to the structure using a timber nail gun – the first ever to be imported into this country.

“Building the boathouse without any metal whatsoever was a quirky idea that became an obsession. Conceptually it appeared reasonable but turning this into a building required a great deal of expertise and energy from the Carpenter Oak team, without this I think it is unlikely the project would have been able to deliver on the initial promise. Their design input directly fed into the successful delivery. The on-site choreography needed to erect the structure with a group of enthusiastic amateurs in a day and a half was a marvel… Thanks!” Joel Gustafsson, client

The Japanese Boathouse is a truly unique structure. It has won the Architects’ Journal Award sustainability prize for small projects, a RIBA East Award and RIBA Small Project of the Year Award, Wood Awards Small Projects 2023, as well as being commended at the CFCI Awards 2023.

“We’ve built many boathouses for clients all across the UK and this one has been particularly special. Its distinct style really stands out along this beautiful part of the river and Joel and Poppy’s determination to build it sustainably is commendable.” Luke Copley-Wilkins, Carpenter Oak Managing Director

Photography: Matthew Smith