Exton Hall
Image Source: BCM
A dramatic subterranean-blew structural challenge realised through bold steel, concrete and cantilevers, marrying architecture with site and wine.
A dramatic subterranean-blew structural challenge realised through bold steel, concrete and cantilevers, marrying architecture with site and wine.
Client: Exton Park Vineyard
Value: £4m
Location: Exton, Hampshire
Architect: Luke Rose Architect
Contractor: RA Parker
Exton Hall is a purpose-built events venue within Exton Park Vineyard in the South Downs National Park, completed in 2019. The building houses five function rooms, a basement wine vault and tasting spaces, with floor-to-ceiling glazing and natural stone cladding that complement the surrounding landscape. Delivered in two phases — an initial tasting room followed by a major basement extension — it stands as the largest mixed-use steel frame and deepest basement in AWA’s portfolio.
The 3.5-metre-deep basement was formed using 350mm reinforced concrete walls and base. Two elliptical skylights connect the basement to the main hall: one provides daylight, the other forms part of a glass-insert boardroom table offering views into the wine vault below. As the span beneath was too wide for conventional support, AWA designed a cantilever bracket system to carry the load. The Great Hall — a double-height space — required moment frames to achieve its cathedral-like openness. A prefabricated two-storey corkscrew stair was craned into place, while Purbeck and Portland stone cladding demanded precise fixing and alignment around irregular window frames.
Exton Hall unites architectural ambition with structural precision, showcasing AWA’s expertise in delivering complex, design-led projects. The result is a modern, high-end events space seamlessly rooted in its vineyard setting, combining technical innovation with refined aesthetic quality.
AWA Consulting Engineers is a structural, civil, and marine engineering consultancy established in 1987, with a hard-won but deserved reputation for delivering excellence in our profession.
Our philosophy is simple: we put people first. This has resulted in a high number of repeat clients and an impressive track record of successful award-winning projects. We are proud to be professional, and approachable; we believe this makes us the ideal partner for your project.
AWA has technical teams in our offices located in Romsey, Hampshire and Bath, Somerset. We deliver services to clients typically across the South, South East and South West.
Our team includes both chartered structural engineers and chartered civil engineers committed to continuous professional development ensuring you benefit from up to date industry expertise, whatever your project entails.
To find out more about how AWA Consulting Engineers can help with your project, get in touch today. Email mail@awaengineers.com and one of the team will be in touch. Alternatively, call 01794 524447 to speak to a member of our team.
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