Timber Structure — Coed Gwern, Powys, Wales

Designed by Bryn Hallett during his Professional Diploma at the Centre for Alternative Technology, the Coed Gwern Bird Hide is a quietly remarkable structure — one that has earned recognition far beyond its modest scale, earning a place in the Architects Journal Top 10 British Projects and appearing on the front cover of the magazine. Bryn was photographed inside with his feet up, which felt entirely appropriate.

Constructed from locally sourced Welsh untreated timber, the hide is built with care and economy — each component selected to minimise waste and ensure the structure sits lightly within its woodland setting in Powys. Walls, roof and seating are integrated into a single cohesive unit, visually permeable yet offering ample shelter, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of the woodland from a tranquil, considered vantage point.

Approaching through the trees, the hide reveals itself simply and without ceremony. Inside, dappled light filters through the canopy, the scent of fresh timber mingles with the woodland floor, and the boundary between structure and nature quietly dissolves. It is a place designed for stillness — and it delivers it completely.