Bruton Barton

The property has three front doors: one serving each of the two respectiv
istoric houses, and a third, central doorway, which was, most certainly, historically a ‘Barton’ – the typical passageway and public access route between buildings, which is prevalent elsewhere in the area.

The intention of the project was to rearticulate and strengthen this historic route through the property. In doing so, it was intended to enhance the amenity of the central courtyard by reinforcing its role as the central and pivotal space within the overall dwelling. Further, by enhancing the route of the Barton, it was intended to also strengthen the connection to the main rear garden, which was rather disconnected as an amenity space.

The dual ambition of the project was also to renew and rejuvenate the two existing rear outbuildings which straddle the end of the Barton. These outbuildings, which were last used as an artist’s studio and gallery, had been vacant for some time and were both derelict. The roofs and windows were all in a very poor state of repair and required renewal. However, these were also substantial spaces and, with their orientation to the south and the main rear garden, they offered the opportunity of providing outstanding living accommodation.

Bruton Barton is an unusual property, as the intimate scale of the courtyard made it difficult for the houses to operate as individual dwellings, but the disparate arrangement, brought about by the conglomeration, did not provide for a cohesive single dwelling. These recent alterations have given the property an enriched arrangement, taking advantage of the rear garden, south orientation and connection to the river; the previously redundant and derelict outbuildings have been brought into full use.

Annual CO2 data was not provided