A 19th Century farm complex in the middle of Dartmoor National Park, Devon. This farmhouse and its associated barns were in much need of refurbishment and renovation. The brief was to create a new large family home, combining the Farmhouse and the Attached Barn with a contemporary glass extension between. Ancillary accommodation for guests and parties would be provided within the former milking parlour barn.
Partial demolition removed the 1950’s extensions and attached garage. The farmhouse now boasts 4 large bedrooms with ensuites, sitting room, dining room and a generous kitchen/living area within the ‘Glass box’. This light-weight metal and glass extension utilised glazing systems of the highest quality and technology, and allows panoramic views of the surrounding grounds and the park beyond and creates an axis of movement and light through the existing buildings. Each sliding glass panel, supplied and installed by Cantifix that forms this extension are 3.8m high and 2m wide; at the time the upper limits of what was achievable.
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Internally a palette of existing granite walls has been paired with Jerusalem limestone stone flooring from Mandarin Stone , and wide-plank oak flooring. Existing timber ceiling and roof structures have been retained where possible – retaining the character of the property. Feature panels of black walnut line the kitchen and entrance hall joinery, adding warmth to the calm colour palette. Wood burners were supplied by Kernow Fires .
The old milking parlour has been converted to ancillary accommodation. Half of the existing structure was demolished and replaced with a contemporary green oak timber frame, seemingly ‘emerging’ out of the monolithic barn. A new zinc roof unifies the structure.
The design was well received by the Dartmoor National Park Planning Authority and was seen as both a sympathetic and progressive design solution to bring life back to an historic building within a sensitive context. The conversion of the milking parlour was awarded the Build-It ‘ Best timber frame home of the Year 2014’ National award. This was the first of many successful projects completed between van Ellen + Sheryn architects and project managers Goulden and Sons.
