ARCH ITECT’S VIEW
How to achieve the exposed ceiling trend
George Bradley, director of Bradley Van Der Straeten, explains how to make a feature out of your ceiling with structural timber
PHOTO: SOPHIA SPRING
What is an exposed timber ceiling and what’s the appeal?
In the same way that timber roof trusses were left exposed in many older houses to add character, a design technique that’s emerged over the past few years takes this same concept and applies it to new builds and extensions, leaving the structure of new roofs uncovered to create a contemporary ceiling design.
Texture is an important element to take into consideration when designing a space, not only in terms of touch, but visually, too. Exposing ceiling structures is a way of almost competing with the beautiful aesthetic of the past. Victorian and Georgian architecture used visual techniques that served a practical purpose in hiding the joints where a wall and ceiling connect, with the result being intricate floral motifs in coving and ceiling roses. These details helped to break up large spaces and add texture.