Designed as a holiday retreat and design studio, the 2,250-square-meter Ancient Party Barn was made possible thanks to successful architect-client collaboration. The clients, digital designer John Sinclair and fashion designer Deborah Harvey, did not limit the architects with specific programmatic demands. Instead, they focused on preserving the structures’ character and historical integrity, working with the architects to creatively reuse salvaged materials.
The fragments of the 18th century barn buildings—which comprise a threshing barn, dairy, and stables—were integrated with exposed industrial-scale kinetic mechanisms that give the structures an edgy contemporary vibe and open parts of the facade up to key countryside views. An American aircraft-hanger, for instance, lifts a concertina door up on the east side, while an adapted chain-lift operates barn door-inspired insulated shutters.
Related: Portuguese Barn Transformed into Sun-Drenched Louvered Residence
The combination of recycled materials and high-tech solutions are found in other parts of the house, from the interior design to the facade. While the original green oak framing was restored and reused, the structures only appear to be timber-framed. The main barn is actually supported by a steel exoskeleton and clad with a super-insulated industrial SIP system. The energy-efficient Ancient Party Barn is also heated via a ground-source heat pump. LEDs are used in reclaimed light fittings. The clients are also given the option to control the heating, lighting, and security systems remotely.
+ Liddicoat & Goldhill
Via RIBA
Images via Liddicoat & Goldhill, by Keith Collie and Will Scott
