As part of a whole estate diversification strategy, our team secured planning permission to transform four redundant and isolated agricultural barns into modern holiday lets.

The barns, once used for cattle, were in a superb location to develop unique holiday accommodation. Located on a working arable farm, nestled in the rolling countryside of West Berkshire, the barns have unique access to the North Wessex Downs AONB and are in close proximity to the Ridgeway Trail – the oldest road in Britain. The barns have been sympathetically restored to the highest standards with the design retaining defining elements of their original character.

The Peasantry – Barn 02 is set within a woodland running along a chalk ridgeline. The simple design sought to frame a different character of view from each aspect, north to south looking through the nearby woodland and east to west out on to impressive vistas of the rolling North Wessex Downs. Following the concept of “A Shadow in the Woods”, the new living wing addition is clad in matt black Siberian larch as a contrast to the red brick of the original building. A link section houses the utilities of the building and helps better define the two building masses. Lines of sight are framed throughout the building, focusing on specific elements of the surrounding landscape.