Feature Façade - BBC Earth Experience

The BBC Earth Experience, a trailblazing new attraction that promises to immerse visitors in the stunning diversity of our planet's seven continents, is located in Earl's Court. It features a captivating narrative by David Attenborough. On arrival to this experience is a striking larch timber façade, adorned with the BBC Earth Experience logo intricately cut out in Douglas fir, which creates a visually compelling frontage.

Xylotek was tasked with the detailed design, fabrication, and installation of this external timber façade, a project contracted through ES Global Solutions. The process unfolded with meticulous precision at Xylotek's Bristol workshop. The larch fins were crafted into panel groups, measuring approximately 2.5m x 8.1m, with 16 of these pre-fabricated panels forming the core of the façade.

The Douglas fir lettering, including the striking silhouette of a child reaching upwards within the lettering, was another focal point of this project. Each piece of lettering was carefully cut, sanded, and finished in-house. The lettering was CNC'd.

Beyond the façade, the project also included a canopy roof structure, adding another layer of complexity and innovation. This part of the project involved 97 joists, each shaped using a 4-axis CNC. The plywood sheets, affixed to these joists, were then coated with a single ply membrane, ensuring durability and longevity.

The entire process, from the initial detailing to the final installation, reflects a unique approach that blends practical construction expertise with intellectual innovation. By overseeing every step of this process in-house, from the fabrication of the timber elements to their final installation, this ensured seamless integration and delivery of this high quality project, with a blend of precision and creativity.