Sycamore House

Sycamore House is a Grade II listed experimental smallholder's dwelling built between 1919 and 1920. It was designed by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for the Board of Agricultural and Fisheries, under the supervision of W.R. Jaggard. The building is constructed from reinforced in-situ concrete and features a flat concrete roof. It is two storeys high with a standard plan that includes a central entrance, a stair hall, and service rooms at the rear.

Around 1940, a concrete porch was added to the front. The original doors and windows were replaced around 1986 with diamond pattern double glazing. The walls are made of a mixture of 1:8 Portland cement and local gravel, measuring 12 inches thick and reducing to 9 inches on the first floor. These walls are reinforced with vertical 'exmet' and horizontal 'temperature' 1/4 inch reinforcing bars above and below the openings. The first floor consists of precast T beams with a screed finish, while the roof is supported by precast trusses carrying a 2-inch in-situ concrete slab on 'hyrib', with additional Pudlo cement added. The roof was later covered with felt. Internal partitions are made from precast concrete blocks, and precast lintels are used for the openings. A 2-inch Pudlo cement damp proof course is also included. This building is notable for being one of the first five experimental structures aimed at exploring the use of local materials in construction.