RDG was commissioned to provide preliminary scaffold designs for the restoration of Wentworth Woodhouse, a Grade I listed stately home. The design ensured sensitivity to the building’s historic significance while providing a scheme that actively engaged paying visitors during the renovation process.
At the concept design stage, RDG provided outline information for the forms of construction, materials, drainage requirements, bridging locations, material transfer, storage routes and access solutions. The detailed design consisted of an encapsulated structure with a lattice-framed duo-pitched roof and gable ends, supported by a perimeter scaffold around the building and within the courtyards. Since it wasn’t possible to tie the scaffold into the building’s fabric, it was designed to be completely free-standing, preserving the property's architectural integrity.
Given Wentworth Woodhouse's location amidst 87 acres of grounds, the scaffold was designed with added width and kentledge at the base to ensure stability and withstand potential environmental loads from wind and snow. This was especially critical due to the site's exposed nature.
To keep the house operational during the restoration, public walkways and viewing platforms were incorporated into the design, allowing visitors to access and view the restoration in progress. These walkways were assembled on the ground level in four 22-meter sections, which were then craned into position, resting on the supporting scaffold structure. The design considered specific criteria for public scaffolds, ensuring safety and functionality for visitors.
