Forda Hill Farm

The existing barn conversion approval made little effort to provide any real value to the sensitive, rural location. Instead, we worked with the client to seek approval. under the fallback position to significantly improve all aspects of the scheme, without being restricted/ hindered by the constraints of the existing linear barn structure. Our aim is to realise a dwelling which is better related to its setting, smaller in mass and scale, enhanced in appearance and more efficient in terms of building fabric.

Project Location:

Croyde

Project Size:

290m2

Service:

RIBA 1-6

Completion:

TBC

The fallback scheme was not felt to be of value in terms of design. It took the existing building form and fabric and simply domesticated it from a barn, into a hybrid-like building which is neither of the two. There was no vision or thought about design, which did not do any justice to the unique site and landscape.

The revised scheme proposes a range of staggering volumes, asymmetry and a range of opening sizes and positions. The variety avoids regimentation and arguably reduces emphasis on domestic features. Often traditional rural buildings have sporadic openings at different heights and differing sizes which create a more interesting, more organic and less regimented facade of greater interest and diversity. It’s rare that traditional rural buildings were built with symmetry in mind, and is often the result of a variety of forms all interconnected which immediately prevents any symmetry.