tusmore house
Project: Tusmore House
Masonry Contractor: APS Masonry
Executive Architect: Whitfield Lockwood Architects
Project Architect: Johnson Cave Associates
Described as a 'Palladian Gem' by the press, Stewart Design (UK) Ltd produced all the working drawings, production schedules and templates for this substantial private residence, involving approx 900m³ (32,000ft³) of Massangis stone.
Tusmore House is a magnificent 3,800m² new property for a private client.
The ground floor comprises 140mm thick, tooled and rusticated ashlar and the upper floors generally comprise 100mm ashlar and bonders to brickwork, constructed simultaneously, providing a monolithic loadbearing structure.
Brickwork was used to provide a economic solution to an otherwise traditional masonry construction process with 5mm joints and lime mortar using ashlar blocks up to 1100mm x 500mm in size.
The portico comprises six free-standing and four engaged ionic columns with carved capitals. Solid drums more that 1m in diameter and 700mm high form the front 10m high columns and support the pediment and 2½ tonne springers.
The west elevation comprises Venetian windows and a stone entrance porch to a terrace facing a lake.
The stone used is massangis, quarried in the Dijon region of France and shipped in block form to APS Masonry in Osney Mead, Oxford, for manufacture and fixing.
