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design.....
Hi Bert, I've wrestled with something similar as I try to develop my own observatory which already has non-negotiable pre-existing elements to its design/construction. My solution is certainly not a suggestion for you, but within my deliberations/designing there may be a "spark" for you to strike on.
My deck/platform was something I had already built, free-standing and elevated above my backyard olive grove at approx 4 metres, a very small job measuring 2.5 x 2.5 metres free-space.
After several working designs I decided that having the mount permanently set-up on my pier was the most important issue; so that only having to place the scope (with dovetail bar and rings affixed) onto it and doing some minor drift aligning would see me ready for action. This whole situation would be expedited by having the scope in an insulated weatherproof container at the side that will double as a bench seat and storage space for other equipment.
Fabricating an aluminium bracket that is affixed to the pier some distance down from the levelling plate that accomodates 2 halves of a "collar base," allows me to create a weatherproof box or container that slips down over the mount assembly and is lever-locked into position for protection during of non-use.
Later on I may fabricate a larger "cockle-shell" container from fibreglass that could hold the scope et al and have the advantage of being stream-lined - somewhat similar containers are, I believe, used to stow equipment on ships' decks etc.
None of the above is particularly relevant to you Bert (although it may be to others) but along the way to this final design I canvassed others that may be in some way.
Seeing that your fixed walls are so low (900mm) I presume that you are not envisaging this "shed" as a shelter for yourself etc: and I can only presume that there is an element of concern about winds to make you opt for this particular design/dimensions. Or perhaps it is a specific aesthetic you are aiming for?
Having said that you could easily raise the height of these 900mm walls and not need such a height for the roof to clear the pier and scope set-up etc, employing a lower profile roof.
Another point worth making is that dispensing with the fixed wall at one end as per your diagrams, and making that end an opening (2 door?) end to the whole unit would give you the ability to re-close these doors once you had opened up the observatory and thus returning the structural integrity to such a design that would be (possibly) suspect without "walls/structures" at both ends.
All this may well be "tripe" to you Bert, but as I said, something in it may have some merit for you to consider!
Best of luck with you constructions, Darryl.
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