Knapp Stable

The project involved the careful refurbishment of the grade II listed stable and a new contemporary extension. New openings have been formed in the original stable to flood the main live / work space with easterly light in the morning, and southern light in middle of the day. The oak frame has been restored and lined in sheep’s wool and lime plaster. The main space also houses a biomass stove which supplies the building with heating and hot water. Early conversations defined the importance of respecting the historic fabric and celebrating the character that the existing structure offered. As a response to this, the stone walls are wrapped with hempcrete, a lime and hemp sprayed insulation, which allows for breathable construction, but also for the unique contours of the walls to be expressed in the finish. The new timber framed extension is wrapped in corrugated metal sheeting, which is a common vernacular in the agricultural setting which our site resides. However, it has been carefully detailed to produce a crisp contemporary addition to a historic structure. A material pallet of FSC certified timber and sheep wool were selected for their sustainable credentials. The spaces created are generous for a small building but also every spare is utilised, including a sleeping platform above the bathroom secured with a plywood tree. Knapp Stable is a low budget, genuinely sustainable and carefully crafted project, that sits comfortably in its landscape and is a calm and joyful space to live and work in.