A New Farm house

We were asked to develop proposals for a new house at the centre of an agricultural estate in Oxfordshire.

The clients’ initial aspiration was to build a replacement dwelling on the site of some 1930s workers cottages, but following our engagement we turned our attention to a beautiful but neglected group of farm buildings nearby. These centered around a fine unlisted 18th century barn, which had a series of modern agricultural sheds and silos attached.

We developed proposals with the landscape architect Kim Wilkie for a new wing to the barn and the conversion of the grain silos to accommodation. The new building was designed in a subtle contemporary arts and crafts approach, subservient to the main structure, which created a generous 5 bedroom family house with extensive outbuildings.The barn was retained as an unconverted space.

A Somerset Farmhouse

Our work here has been to provide significant extensions and alternations to a stone-built farmhouse in Somerset. Surrounded by fine agricultural buildings, including a listed barn, the farmhouse had been extended during the 1960s and 70s in an architecturally unsympathetic way.

Our proposal removes these extensions and creates a new wing in the early Georgian manner that will effectively turn the building into a small Manor Farm. Fine paneled rooms and a new painted timber staircase will be constructed. A wider scheme of landscape improvements is now being put in place.

Construction is now underway and due for completion in 2019.

A Farmhouse in Oxfordshire

This handsome Grade II listed Cotswold farmhouse had fine bones but had suffered a number of poor quality extensions over the years. New owners were seeking to restore it as well as to extend it very signficantly, and we were called into to advise. Our initial thoughts were to turn the building entirely around, creating a new entrance front that better responded to the existing farm buildings and approach, and to create a far more private garden realm beyond.

The house is built in natural local stone with a reclaimed Cotswold stone roof, and careful, authentic detailing to create an immediately settled feel. One of the most interesting parts of the commission was for a substantial new swimming pool complex. On the north elevation, facing the entrance court and old farm buildings, the pool house is conceived as a very simple vernacular structure, with a bread oven offering the only architectural form. To the south, an arcaded loggia makes a beautiful sitting room overlooking the new swimming pool.

The garden and wider landscape were conceived by the renowned designer Jinny Blom. The building was executed to our design in collaboration with a local architectural practice, Christian Fleming – a way of working that we find is extremely conducive and which makes excellent use of our skills and time.

Details

Location
Oxfordshire

Date
2012-2018

A New Farm house

Details

©ben pentreath ltd 2018

A Somerset Farmhouse

Details

©ben pentreath ltd 2018

A Farmhouse in Oxfordshire

Details

©ben pentreath ltd 2018

A New Farm house