In the Oxfordshire countryside, this Grade II Listed series of former agricultural barns has been sensitively converted into a spacious family home with associated equestrian facilities. The project preserves the character of the original U-shaped farmstead while introducing a contemporary design suited to modern living.
A central challenge was how to adapt the fragmented layout of the listed farmstead for cohesive family life, without losing the U-shaped arrangement for which the buildings were listed. Our approach was to retain the hierarchy of the existing structures, creating a large kitchen, dining and family living space at the heart of the home. Here, a polished concrete floor and new pantry and utility spaces support the practicalities of day-to-day life, while original brickwork, beams and trusses were repaired and restored, remaining expressive of the barns’ agricultural origins.
To connect the home to its rural setting and introduce natural light, we replaced a former barn door with a new triple-height steel-framed glazed opening. This intervention floods the main living area with daylight and opens the space to views of the garden and meadow beyond, transforming the experience of the interior.
To unite the two wings of the farmstead, a contemporary extension was designed to occupy a former circulation route once used for livestock. Its zinc cladding was chosen to complement the original slate roof while clearly distinguishing new fabric from old. A former open colonnade, previously exposed to the elements, was carefully enclosed using the original material palette, creating additional family accommodation including bedrooms and a games room while maintaining the building’s historic character.
Across both wings, new partitions were introduced to form bedrooms, bathrooms, and study spaces. This includes a principal suite featuring a curved wall, a mezzanine library and a generous ensuite, creating a series of private retreats within the wider home. The project also extended to the wider estate, including the design of an equestrian centre and outdoor arena, with excavated material reused to form landscaped hügelkultur mounds planted with wildflowers. In total, over 5,000 trees and shrubs have been introduced, reinforcing the long-term relationship between the architecture and its rural setting.
Country Homes & Estates
Architecture
Cotswolds
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