Guy Mallinson
Guy Mallinson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Guy Christopher Crosbie Mallinson December 12, 1963 |
| Education | Parnham House; Royal College of Art (MA) |
| Occupations | Furniture designer, craftsman, educator |
| Known for | Green woodworking |
Guy Christopher Crosbie Mallinson (born December 1963) is a British furniture designer, craftsman, and educator.[1] He is recognized for his contributions to contemporary woodworking, specifically the application of pliable wood technology in civic architecture, and for the design of the RIBA award-winning Mallinson’s Woodland Retreat in Dorset.[2][3]
Early life and education
Mallinson trained as a cabinetmaker at Parnham House (The John Makepeace School for Craftsmen in Wood) in Beaminster, Dorset.[4] He then earned a Master of Arts (MA) in Furniture Design from the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London.[2]
Career
Mallinson established Mallinson Ltd in Fulham, London, specializing in bespoke joinery for private and corporate clients, including the headquarters of Walt Disney.[2] During this period, he pioneered the architectural use of Bendywood, a material created through longitudinal compression that allows timber to be bent cold and dry.[5]
His firm was contracted to manufacture the interior timber streetscape for the LABAN Dance Centre, designed by Herzog & de Meuron.[6] The project utilized cold-bending techniques to create fluid, continuous handrails.[2] In 2003, the project won the Stirling Prize, and Mallinson Ltd received the FX International Interior Design Award for Best Public Space Installation.[2]
In 2001, Mallinson relocated to a 13.25-acre woodland in Holditch, West Dorset.[3] He transitioned to green woodworking, a method using unseasoned timber and traditional hand tools such as axes and pole lathes.[7] He established a woodland workshop where he teaches traditional craft skills, including Windsor chair making and bowl carving.[8]
Construction philosophy
A central tenet of Mallinson's later work is a "nature-first" construction ethos designed to minimize disturbance to ancient woodland ecosystems.[9] The treehouses use steel screw piles to avoid traditional concrete foundations, preventing disruption of soil microorganisms.[10] The buildings are engineered to be entirely self-supporting, ensuring they do not touch or rely on the host trees for structural integrity.[9] Construction relies on locally sourced timber, such as coppiced sweet chestnut, which contains natural tannins that negate the need for chemical preservatives.[9]
Media and television
- Mastercrafts (BBC Two): In 2010, Mallinson appeared as the expert "Wood Mentor" in the premiere episode, teaching green woodworking techniques.[11]
- George Clarke's Amazing Spaces (Channel 4): Documented the construction of "The Woodsman’s Treehouse" (Series 6, Episode 1).[12]
- Grand Designs House of the Year (Channel 4): Featured the Mallinson Woodland Retreat.[13]
Arboreal architecture
Mallinson designed three luxury treehouses in collaboration with architect Keith Brownlie (BEaM).[14]
| Structure | Completed | Recognition | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Woodsman's Treehouse | 2016 | RIBA South West Award (2017)[15]; RIBA Small Project of the Year (2017)[16] | Built around a 200-year-old oak; features a copper bath and a stainless steel slide.[17] |
| Dazzle Treehouse | 2020 | RIBA South West Award (2023)[18] | Exterior design based on WWI "Dazzle" naval camouflage.[19] |
| Pinwheel Treehouse | 2020 | RIBA South West Award (2023)[20] | A glass-topped living space with radiating rooms.[21] |
References
- ↑ "Guy Christopher Crosbie MALLINSON personal appointments". Companies House. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "About Us". Mallinson's Woodland Retreat. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- 1 2 "Three fantastical fairytale treehouses in Dorset on sale for £2m". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- ↑ "Parnham & the Matter of Making". Design Museum. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- ↑ "Bendywood history". Bendywood. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- ↑ "Shelter from the Storm: Listing bid for Laban Dance Centre". The Twentieth Century Society. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- ↑ "Mastercrafts". The British Crafts Blog. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- ↑ "Luxury tree house in 'magical forest' goes on sale". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- 1 2 3 "Mallinson's Woods and Treehouses for sale". Mallinson's. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- ↑ "Would you take on three luxury treehouses in the Dorset wild?". The Spaces. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- ↑ "Mastercrafts with Monty Don BBC". Robin Wood. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- ↑ "George Clarke's Amazing Spaces: see inside the Woodman's Treehouse". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- ↑ "Grand Designs treehouse retreat in Dorset for sale". Bridport and Lyme Regis News. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- ↑ "Three Award-Winning Tree Houses Hit the Market in England". Dwell. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- ↑ "RIBA South West & Wessex Awards 2017". www.ribaj.com. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
- ↑ Waite, Richard (2017-05-24). "Revealed: Fourteen projects win RIBA South West Awards". The Architects’ Journal. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
- ↑ "Mallinson's Woodland Retreat". Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- ↑ "South West award winners 2023: Dazzle". www.riba.org. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
- ↑ "Dazzle Treehouse". Mallinson's. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- ↑ "South West award winners 2023: Pinwheel". www.riba.org. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
- ↑ "Pinwheel Treehouse". Mallinson's. Retrieved 2026-02-27.