How do you express an agricultural vernacular without being bound by it?
This traditional farmstead in the Howardian Hills, North Yorkshire, has changed dramatically over time, growing as a working farm and reducing in size as methods became increasingly mechanised. Our conversion, refurbishment and extension of the building as two artist’s studios and an office is the latest stage in its evolution, the project offering an opportunity to work with – and add to – the character of the site.
The refurbishment takes inspiration from local rural architecture.
The existing farmhouse and redundant masonry barns were in a state of disrepair, so we treated them as an exercise in restoration, while the rotten, timber-framed barns have been replaced. The extension is a new chapter in the farmstead’s history, introducing a contemporary idiom into its traditional architectural language. We struck a distinctive datum line, as is often the case with agricultural buildings, with a fully glazed ground floor and solid first floor. Given the remoteness and privacy of the farm, this transparent base gives panoramic views of the beck and the landscape beyond – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – from the home’s main living spaces.
Outside, we proposed three distinctive garden spaces to help shape the cluster of buildings, each with a different character and view. The central space is a more formal garden bridging the gap between the main house and the art studios and office. A small west-facing garden connects the art studio and guest accommodation while the main house has a more private east-facing garden setting.
The house and barns are heated via ground source heat pumps therefore draw a minimal mains energy supply reducing its overall carbon footprint. Strengthening work was required to the existing house to ensure we could re-use the centuries old stone and brick structure with an emphasis on preservation. The use of re-claimed local stone for the house and landscaping and the locally sourced larch cladding for the extension meant we could be resourceful in the use of materials found close at hand.
During the early stages of the project the house was being reviewed for grade 2 listed status which added a degree of complication to the design process.
Team:
Architects: Vine Architecture Studio
Structural Engineer: Constant Structural Design
Environmental Engineer: Pure Renewables
Quantity Surveyor / Contract Administrator: Turner and Holman
Heritage Consultant: Humble Heritage
Photographer: Nicholas Worley
