THE COWSHED
Simple materials. Done well. No unnecessary finishes. Formerly housing cattle, this barn is now a stylish, minimal home. Udderly brilliant.
Part Q Permitted Development never looked so good.
Breeze blocks are cut horizontally to elongate the proportion at ground level emphasising solidity, the first floor echoes the simple agricultural aesthetic, simple sinusoidal steel cladding with minimal trims and deep window reveals to emphasise the framed views out to the landscape.
The key concept for the scheme was to focus the plan on Scout Dike Reservoir to the south of the site. The internal cranked axis is amplified by the timber Dinesen flooring strip which runs unapologetically through the heart of the plan, emphasising the shift and focussing the eye out to the landscape beyond.
The early concept sketches opposite highlight the cranking of the ground floor plan to open up the views to the south. Open plan living with the possibility of splitting the house into a rental flat maximises future flexibility. Utilising existing structure, ground source heat pumps and fabric first construction offer a highly sustainable building, not only fit for cows, but humans too.
