Great Britain, Devon

REDHILL BARN, PRIVATE HOME

Nestled in the English countryside, an ancient hayloft dating back to 1810 was entirely renovated by TYPE architecture studio that revitalized the dilapidated site, transforming this example of vernacular architecture that lies at the heart of a working farm. A garden, an orchard and fields of wildflowers are dotted with hedgerows, shrubs and wooded areas that punctuate the surrounding landscape.

With the aim of preserving the character of the original building and its monumental stone walls, TYPE chose to create a new house inside the barn, rather than turn the barn into a house. Their design kept the original envelope, without making any structural changes. Originally intended as entrances for the livestock, the pivot doors allow generous openings that create visual continuity with the surrounding countryside.

The home has a simple hip roof designed to underscore the beauty of the traditional barn structure.

Two bedrooms, the bathroom and the kitchen are located on the ground floor in a cell-like arrangement that make use of a series of arched doorways.

The upper floor is a large, light-filled space, an invitation to relaxation and enjoyment of social gatherings. Perfectly suited to this context is an arrangement of the Groundpiece seating system ‒ designed by Antonio Citterio in 2001 ‒ which, still today, is a symbol of quintessential Flexform comfort.

Project design: Type Studio

Photo courtesy of: Rory Gardiner