House in a Barn

House in a Barn is a Class Q conversion of a former silage barn, transformed into a striking and sustainable home. The design leverages the robust steel portal frame and generous volume of the original structure to create hybrid external spaces. These areas, positioned outside the thermal envelope, offer sheltered and functional amenities while preserving the barn’s character.

A fully breathable timber-frame building was constructed within the existing barn, utilizing salvaged materials from the original structure for cladding. This not only ensured sustainability but also maintained a visual connection to the barn’s agricultural roots. Window sizes and orientations were meticulously designed using advanced tools like PassivHaus software, natural light modelling, and wind studies to optimise resilience in an evolving climate.

The interior emphasises the penetration of natural light through an open-plan, multi-storey layout. A pioneering polycarbonate multi-layered wall, the first of its kind, was installed in the main access corridor. This innovation provides excellent insulation while allowing natural light to flow through the space. Exposed concrete flooring and reused concrete walls, repurposed from the original barn, were incorporated to enhance thermal inertia, contributing to a stable and energy-efficient indoor environment.

Photography by Charles Emerson