Breathing new uses into redundant structures is an important part of ensuring they remain for future generations.

We restored this listed barn and transformed it into additional accommodation for our clients. Key elements of the historic fabric were retained, with new fenestration to replace inappropriate modern glazing, with a new vertical emphasis more in keeping with the barns character.

Continuing our look back at 25 years of Alex Oliver Associates, we look back today to, perhaps, one of our favourite barn conversions.

By keeping as much of the historic fabric as possible, the converted building still looks and feels like the original, but transformed into comfortable family accommodation.

We designed this home in Berkshire to have a striking green oak frame and large amounts of glazing, which when coupled with a reclaimed fireplace and grate create a comfortable space for our client.

Converting existing buildings is a balancing act of the proposed use with the character of the building.

Introducing new glazing can be particularly tricky, but sometimes the building itself will give you the answer. The large dormer window on this barn conversion in Wiltshire proved the inspiration for two further dormers, greatly increasing the light into the building, without appearing alien in character.

The important thing when converting a barn is to use the fabric of the building to lead the design. That way the resulting property still looks and feels like a barn.

This can throw up some issues with low head heights, strange window positions and unusual corners, but this Grade II listed barn in Hampshire is a good example of the beauty that can be created by being led by what is there. As you can see from the before and after photos it has clearly been converted with softwood shiplap cladding being replaced by a return to traditional feather edged boarding, but is definitely still the same building and still a barn.

When working on old buildings a straight line is a rarity. Historic structures wobble, are out of plumb and are curved by the hands that made them.

The trick, when undertaking conservation work is to not fight this. Going with the fact the building is out of square keeps your intervention to a minimum and makes for a more authentic result. We took this approach for this Grade II listed Devonshire Linhay we worked on a few years ago and these pencil drawings we produced as part of the design process show how wonky some parts of the building were. All part of the charm.

We really enjoy working on barn conversions.

Giving an historic building, now defunct, a new lease of life is a very fulfilling project. The key is not to lose the character. Here is a before and after image of a Grade II Listed barn we converted in Hampshire. The intention was to retain as much of the historic fabric and character of the barn as possible whilst converting the barn into usable residential space. Constructed by the talented team at Moulding The Builder, we think we were successful in retaining the essence of the original building whilst at the same time reinstating lost features such as the double height threshing door openings.

Even working on historic buildings, sometimes we get a chance to do something really striking, and we love to seize those opportunities!

This historic barn conversion in Wiltshire had views to the South over an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and we were able to secure consent for this feature dormer window. Not only did it allow views out, but it also allowed the previously uninhabited roofspace to be flooded with light, transforming the space from dingy loft to a light flooded and airy space.

We consider ourselves very lucky to work on some beautiful barns. A key principle we adopt is to ensure that wherever possible the building keeps its character and still retains a barn like quality rather than that of a regular house.

Our scheme for this Grade II listed barn in Wiltshire carefully exposed the historic timbers in the former hay loft to ensure the buildings history could still be read. Careful placement of elements ensured we could incorporate the office and home cinema the brief required, without compromising the listed structure.

When working in traditional styles of architecture it is important to get things ‘right’. Many different elements need to coalesce correctly for the finished scheme to look comfortable.

Take for example this country house in the North Wessex Downs AONB. Carefully modelling the form of the house by breaking the mass of the building into two forms with different but complimentary looks, rather than simply using the same style of all elevations gives the overall scheme a more interesting aesthetic of contrast that reflects a narrative of development over time.

The application of the Golden Section ratio to plan, elevation and openings of the building ensures comfortable proportions in keeping with traditional forms. Careful selection of materials (reclaimed brick, render and timber windows) allows the building to feel grounded and ‘at home’ on the site from day one.

All of these carefully considered choices add up to a whole greater than the sum of its parts.

Sometimes things which were never supposed to be seen, reveal themselves during the course of our work on historic buildings. Carefully incorporating these features into our work gives an opportunity to celebrate the inherent beauty of this kind of vernacular detail.

In this case while undertaking conversion works to an historic barn in the Vale of Pewsey, we uncovered a series of roof trusses, which we subsequently exposed and incorporated into the spaces we created within the roofspace. Historic notches from previous configurations add to the narrative of the history of the building and this layer of history is now able to be appreciated, rather than hidden away in a dusty loft.