Sunny Barn

Nr Banbury, Cotswolds.

Type: Barn Conversions

An imaginative conversion of a seventeenth-century heritage property that has transformed a neglected agricultural building into a stunning, characterful home.

What was the client’s brief?

Barn conversions offer myriad opportunities for creating large-scale family friendly living spaces that also feature bags of period character and plenty of mod cons: in fact, our client bought a substantial Grade II listed barn in the Cotswolds with the idea of doing just that. The thatched barn in question provided a rich and historical starting point for the design of a one-off home that would incorporate an impressive double-height kitchen and a family room with links to the garden. An annexe was also on the wish list, which involved re-purposing a corrugated-iron-roofed pigsty into comfortable guest accommodation and utility space.

What did we do?

We responded to the brief by designing an eye-catching conversion that cleverly unites a contemporary interior with the 400-year-old oak frame and a fully restored thatch. We felt it was important to take an authentic approach to the project, so the new elements of the house – including the stunning glass-and-oak staircase – are sleek and minimal, while the original features are given the space to shine. At the same time, we’ve installed a few bold statement pieces that are designed to celebrate the barn’s living, evolving history: the double-storey birch guest pod in the annexe is a case in point.

What challenges did we need to overcome?

Our biggest concern was the fragile condition of the buildings, which had been sadly neglected in recent years. We worked closely with structural engineers throughout the project and took care to document every centimetre of the barn’s ancient frame to make sure we were able to take the right design decisions. Thanks to non-contact laser scanning technology we could accurately test the impact of design and structural decisions before employing them in real time – a process that saved time, costs and resources, as well as being a significant benefit when it came to documenting and explaining changes we planned to the councils conversation officers who were closely involved throughout the development of these important buildings.

What was the finished result?

The barn perfectly blends old and new, presenting a comfortable living space that embraces its history, while showcasing the best of contemporary design methodologies. So often, the carving-up of space within barns diminishes their grandeur: here, by contrast, we’ve enhanced the feeling of space by linking the living areas with a hallway that runs the entire length of the building. In the kitchen and family area, light streams in through a vast glazing panel, while the glossy Bulthaup Kitchen from Kitchen Architecture provides a perfect counterpoint to the centuries-old frame.

Status: Complete.

Renovations.

We’ve helped transform many wonderful living spaces through renovations and extensions over the years.

Whether you’re looking for a contemporary glass addition, a complete makeover for a period Victorian or Edwardian property, internal remodelling options for houses built more recently, or a complete restoration of a derelict building, we’ll be able to help.

Using our 3D design process, you can explore a range of alterations before embarking on the more detailed phase of your renovation or extension.

Listed Properties.

With our wealth of experience working on listed and heritage properties across London and the South East, HollandGreen has successfully negotiated consents with Local Authority Conservation Officers and with Historic England for a wide range of renovation and extension planning requests.

We work with Specialist Heritage Consultants, and Archaeologists to provide detailed assessments of historic buildings, and have gained approval for ambitious, but sympathetic alterations to properties of historic interest, including those Grade ii* which fall within the top 3% of protected properties in the UK.

New Builds.

For many people the prospect of building their own home is the ultimate dream. At HollandGreen, we’re proud of the fact that we have helped a number of people achieve this dream.

If you are fortunate enough to have a plot of land that has the potential to be built on, or a house that you would like to knock down and start again with a blank piece of paper, we’d love to help.

We can advise on likely planning implications to help establish the feasibility of your project. Our exciting design journey will help you navigate through planning, choosing your builder, and delivering your dream new home.

Barn Conversions.

Barn conversions offer the perfect opportunity to create a unique countryside home, packed with character. At HollandGreen, we’ve had extensive experience in converting existing agricultural buildings into residential dwellings, in accordance to the recent changes to ‘Class Q’ Permitted Development Rights.

From traditional listed stone walled buildings with slate roofing, to more modern metal clad farm sheds for the modern, industrial look, you can create luxurious country living perfect for you. What a great opportunity to create a characterful family home that’s sympathetic to its rural setting, and generally larger in volume and scale than a modern build.

Conservation Areas.

Many properties fall within locations specified as a Conservation Area or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and we have specific experience working with planning departments across London, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

Please do get in touch if you have any specific questions around what can be possible within a Conservation Area, even if you are just at the early stage of purchasing the property.

Luxury Basements & Pools.

If you’re battling to add space to your property, creating a basement storey can provide the perfect option to add significant living space, without having to move.

With basements closer to the main living areas than lofts, there is greater flexibility in terms of use, from home cinemas, wine cellars and playrooms, to office spaces, personal gyms and swimming pools.

To find out whether adding a basement to your property will add value to your house, we recommend seeking advice from your local estate agents. Talk to us about Permitted Development Rights, as basement extensions are often possible, if a cellar space already exists.

Luxury Kitchens & Lofts.

The way people use their living space is changing. We find that for most of our clients, the kitchen is now the hub of the modern home, and we’re proud that we’ve become known for our inventive and aspirational kitchen extensions.

We’ve helped hundreds of home owners across London and the South East create open, bright and contemporary kitchen living spaces that combine cooking, dining and living within one social and inviting area.

We’re also known for our carefully considered, aesthetically pleasing loft extensions that both increase living space and add a wonderful new aspect to your home.