Devon is known for its beautiful landscapes, often dotted with historic agricultural buildings. Here, our design for a replacement barn sits quietly in an elevated position, overlooking a stunning valley. The original 20th-century structure was dilapidated and almost twice the size (scroll for historic images), with extensive concrete hardstanding and low-grade blockwork - far from worthy of such a remarkable setting along a popular coastal footpath.
Our design provides the same amount of storage space but split across two levels. On approach, the barn appears as a modest, single-storey structure clad in locally sourced larch with a simple tin roof. As you move around, a lower floor gradually reveals itself, built into the landscape and clad in stone sourced less than five miles away.
Beyond the building itself, new stone piers - echoing those traditionally found across Devon help reintroduce a sense of craftsmanship often lost in modern agricultural construction.
To the south of the barn, a historic orchard once sat within the field - long lost to time. As part of the project, this orchard has now been reinstated courtesy of local landscape designers AMELD, restoring an important piece of the site’s agricultural heritage and enhancing biodiversity across the landscape.
Once again, special thanks to @matthiaspeters.photography for capturing these beautiful photographs.
Special mention also to @gouldenandsons for managing the construction!
#DevonArchitecture #RuralArchitecture #AgriculturalBuildings #BarnDesign #LandscapeDesign #DevonCoast #SouthDevon #SustainableDesign #TimberCladding #LarchCladding #StoneConstruction #LocalMaterials #Craftsmanship #ModernRural #AdaptiveReuse #CountrysideDesign #UKArchitecture #FarmBuilding #OrchardRestoration #Biodiversity #HistoricLandscape #ArchitecturalDesign #PlaceMaking #valleyviews
Inside this Grade II listed Georgian farmhouse, our clients had great fun crafting a warm, characterful interior filled with rich colours and soft furnishings. Our role was to modernise the home’s functionality - introducing full internal insulation to every external wall, installing slimline double-glazed sash windows throughout, and adding underfloor heating - while ensuring the building’s historic character was thoughtfully conserved and enhanced.
From the beautifully restored timber shutters to the strengthening of the original curved staircase, no detail was overlooked. An original limestone floor was carefully numbered and lifted so the space could be properly insulated and fitted with underfloor heating. Internal partitions were underpinned to carry new loads from the insulated roof and converted attic, and the entire house underwent a full re-plumb and re-wire.
Special thanks to @matthiaspeters.photography for capturing these beautiful photographs. We’ll be sharing more soon - including the bedrooms and bathrooms.
And a special mention also to @carpenterneave for supporting the clients with the interior design!
And last but not least, special thanks to @gouldenandsons for managing the construction!
#GeorgianFarmhouse #ListedBuilding #HeritageRestoration #ConservationArchitecture #HistoricHomes #PeriodProperty #InteriorArchitecture #InteriorDesignUK #ColourfulInteriors #Craftsmanship #RestorationProject #UKArchitecture #NaturalMaterials #LimePlaster #UnderfloorHeating #SlimlineSashWindows #EnergyEfficientHomes #SustainableRenovation #FarmhouseInteriors #DevonInteriors #EnglishCountryside #DesignDetails #ArchitecturalConservation #houserestoration #southdevon #devon #bantham
At the heart of this South Devon coastal project is the restoration of a Grade II listed Georgian farmhouse. After years of careful, multi-phase work, it’s a joy to finally share photos of a home that will now serve generations to come.
Working with historic buildings takes patience. Unsympathetic 20th-century additions were painstakingly unpicked, allowing the original character to shine once again. The house has been lovingly restored and enhanced with natural materials - from insulated lime plasters to wood-fibre insulation - significantly reducing its thermal demands and allowing the entire property to run on a ground-source heat pump.
With commanding views across the valley, the farmhouse sits proudly among a cluster of other listed agricultural buildings. The courtyards create beautiful moments of sun and shade - perfect places to sit and take in the gardens thoughtfully designed and made by local landscape studio AMELD.
With special thanks to @matthiaspeters.photography for capturing these stunning photographs. We’ll share some more photographs of this project soon!
Special mention also to @gouldenandsons for the careful and extremely well managed construction.
#SouthDevon #DevonArchitecture #GeorgianFarmhouse #ListedBuilding #HeritageRestoration #HistoricArchitecture #ConservationArchitecture #SustainableDesign #LowEnergyHomes #NaturalMaterials #LimePlaster #WoodFibreInsulation #GroundSourceHeatPump #LandscapeDesign #EnglishCountryside #ArchitecturalPhotography #UKArchitecture #FarmhouseRestoration #AdaptiveReuse #craftsmanship
Transforming this snug room back into a spacious light filled kitchen - widening the existing window opening at the back for tall glazed double doors that lead directly outside onto a green terrace, and unblocking the opening into the dining room.
Such a dreamy project to work on with @woco_ltd
This soft and subtle extension is designed to maximise the extensive views across the garden and the landscape beyond. With a natural copper roof, lime render and bespoke glazed timber sliding doors, the concept was for this space to feel crafted and in harmony with the original Grade II listed farm house. This project is fast approaching completion on site and we’re looking forward to getting it photographed and comparing the finished article with these concept renders!
We’ve been having fun with bringing some of our project plans to life a bit more in recent weeks! Here’s a selection of four projects in Devon, which we look forward to adding to our website along with other images very soon!
Just to complete a nice row of three! Our container studios really are lovely to work from - especially in the summer 🌞
#wocoltd #architecture #designandmake #studios #studiosinthewoods #woodlandstudios #offices #design #designstudios #canopy #terrace #devon #dartington #woodland
With nods to Japanese architecture this modest timber frame canopy somehow feels quite grand when you stand before it or sit beneath it. It’s given the container studios a new identity and a great sense of arrival - we think so anyway :)
#wocoltd #architecture #designandmake #studios #studiosinthewoods #woodlandstudios #offices #design #designstudios #canopy #terrace #devon #dartington #woodland
Our studios at Dartington after a long time in the making!
#wocoltd #architecture #designandmake #studios #studiosinthewoods #woodlandstudios #offices #design #designstudios #canopy #terrace #devon #dartington #woodland
A view down the valley and out to sea - concept design for a Devon coastal home.
#wocoltd #architecture #design #conceptdesign #coastalhome #coastalliving #seaview #valley #devon #devonlife
