Glebe Farm

For our client, who used to play in the barn as a child and whose initials are still carved on a stone quoin, the conversion completed a life-long journey. The barn had previously been reroofed with a bat loft incorporated, therefore designing and constructing to avoid disturbance to the roosts presented a challenge.

The layout was crafted carefully to protect the bats while ensuring the most efficient use of space and exposing the form and heritage of the structure. This led to separate staircases accessing different bedrooms and allowed the exposed king-post truss to become a division of rooms. A single storey extension to the side created a study space, using bricks entirely reclaimed from the new openings created.

A small oak frame extension to the rear took the place of an original lean-to, providing an effective kitchen space.The original large openings were designed to form an attractive entrance to the front, with aluminium bifold glazing forming a connection to the garden to the rear. The barn was detailed carefully to ensure that original features including some brick walls and timber purlins could remain exposed while eliminating the risk of condensation and cold bridging.

Replacement timber beams were detailed so that their padstones sat concealed within the walls and the exposed brick below was seamless. Lintels were left exposed and the diamond shaped ventilation hole arrangements were retained but made weathertight.

Space heating was generated via an air source heat pump connected to a low temperature underfloor system, with the fabric heavily insulated to reduce heat loss, and the traditional elements considered carefully to eliminate cold bridges.