Chiltern Barn Conversion, Oxon
David was to provide designs of a barn conversion and works to a number of associated farm buildings within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The long term aim being to develop the farm buildings as both a home for an extended and growing family. Alongside this was a requirement to provide supporting facilities for the ongoing development and management of re-wilded sustainable environments in the surrounding landscape.
The farm buildings consist of a farmhouse, barn and ancillary structures situated around a North facing courtyard with views to the South. The barn had been part converted to residential use previously. It is attached to the existing farmhouse to form a long pendulous sequence of residential spaces around two sides of the courtyard.
Meadows rise towards the southerly horizon and along the western boundary, lies a ribbon of trees.
Evidence indicates that the existing barn was probably originally two individual buildings. One end is constructed of masonry with simple timber trusses. The end facing the highway is older and of timber frame construction on sleeper walls.
The farmhouse orientated North – South, is a tile clad two storey house with a hipped roof.
The clients required the domestic spaces to be consolidated and rationalised into domestic spaces for a growing family. Alongside this was a requirement to provide space for machinery necessary to maintain the sustainable management of wildflower meadows and indigenous woodland.
Environmental surveys revealed a maternity roost of long eared bats and these required accommodating within the design proposals.
A new single link unifies the barn conversion and associated outbuildings while continuing the established circulation route. The designs for the barn conversion propose a series of double height spaces revealing the roof profile and allowing daylight into the heart of the spaces, whilst celebrating the scale of the existing building.
The images show the architects development drawings of the ongoing project.
Related projects
