The long-term vision was to transform the farm buildings into a flexible home that could support the needs of an extended and growing family. Equally important was the integration of facilities to aid in the development and management of re-wilded, sustainable landscapes. As experienced barn conversion architects, we sought to harmonise modern living with ecological stewardship.
Previously partly converted for residential use, the barn adjoins the original farmhouse to form a fluid sequence of living spaces arranged around a central courtyard. Our role was to rationalise and refine these domestic zones while also accommodating equipment for the ongoing care of surrounding meadows and woodlands
Set within a highly protected landscape, our design responds sensitively to the unique character of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The layout comprises a farmhouse, barn, and ancillary structures arranged around a north-facing courtyard, with views stretching south across re-wilded meadows and native woodland.
The barn reveals a rich architectural history, featuring timber trusses, masonry and flint walls and remnants of older timber structure. These elements not only contributed to the building’s narrative, but also informed our approach as architects for the barn conversion.
The project centred around the conversion of a large barn with later additions extending around a central courtyard.
Our proposals preserve and celebrate the barn’s generous internal volumes while simplifying the existing fragmented layout and complex circulation.
Set within the protected landscape of the Chiltern Hills, this project embodies our commitment to crafting high-quality, context-sensitive rural architecture. Materials were carefully chosen to resonate locally with the context of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), while delivering a crisp, contemporary finish:
A key environmental focus emerged when bat surveys revealed a maternity roost of long-eared bats. These required careful mitigation under European Protected Species (EPS) licensing. We included compliance features such as bat tubes and alternative roosting provisions, which were created under ecological supervision, ensuring both habitat protection and planning compliance. Detailed proposals were required for our planning submission and to obtain a license certificate to undertake the works.
In tandem, the clients were keen to expand previously established wildflower meadows and indigenous woodland on the site.
We proposed a number of sustainable energy measures including:
These images present our development drawings for the barn conversion, which has secured planning consent and is now entering the detailed design stage.
If you are considering undertaking a barn conversion project, dealing with heritage constraints or ecological sensitivities such as protected species, we can help. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your project.
