The Project
This stunning farm cottage will be transformed into a truly 21st Century, luxury family home. Whilst this new home will be fit for modern living, it will continue to pay respect to its history.
The Una Architectural team is looking forward to watching this exciting project progress as we work with our client to create a beautiful family home.
Project Background
This exciting development will ensure the restoration and long-term protection of this stunning, historic cottage, lovingly nestled within a woodland setting.
Una Architectural’s proposals will see the dilapidated cottage transformed into a luxurious family home, perfectly suited for 21st Century living. The cottage lies in a large clearing within woodland. A beautiful track terminates at the property, offering a peaceful and secluded approach. To the south, large hop fields adorn the landscape – a landscape we’ll be brining inside via an intelligent use of large windows and French doors.
The sole surviver of an original cluster of four dwellings, Barlands Cottage will sit proud; an innovative combination of historic cottage and modern, luxurious family home. Lying vacant for a number of decades, and having fallen into a state of disrepair, our team have worked, collaboratively, with our client to deliver an exceptional design that will stand the test of time.
Our Design
Our proposals will see the inclusion of a brand-new, wrap around, single-storey side extension, a new roof, flooring and repair work to the walls. These proposals will retain the existing stone walls, chimney base as well as existing – and reclaimed – roof tiles. All new materials will pay homage to the character of the original structure, including the reinstatement of the chimney’s stack with red brick and a new timber door. These features blend with, and reflect, the local vernacular.
The single-storey extension is contemporary in its design, including; a zinc roof, French doors and a brick structure, to offer a pleasant contrast from the original structure. The restoration of the building will complement its existing landscape setting, whilst maintaining the charming character of a farm cottage with the rural landscape providing a historical reference point.
Works on the original cottage include
- Original features are to be retained and reinstated.
- The existing window and door openings are to be retained. New timber
double-glazed casement windows and timber panelled front door are to be installed in existing openings. - A new timber trussed roof is to be formed in the location of the existing roof with plain tile finish.
- The existing stonework elevations and brick heads are to be renovated.
- Where necessary existing elements are to be rebuilt.
- The former chimney is to be reinstated. The reinstated chimney will reflect the local vernacular.
- The former window opening with brick head to the left of the projecting chimney stack is to be reinstated.
- The existing fireplace is to be renovated and the existing bread oven is to be reinstated.
- The new first floor is to be at the same level as the former first floor.
- Rooflights are to be provided on the rear (north) elevation. These rooflights provide natural north light to the first floor bedrooms, bathroom and the staircase.
- The rooflights are to be located on the rear of the Cottage such that the front elevation remains in its original form. The rooflights are to be Conservation Rooflights (flush with the roof finish).
- The original internal walls are to be plastered with lime plaster.
Extension
- The new extension to the dwelling has been designed such that on the approach it is tucked away to the west side of the original Cottage and is subservient to the Cottage.
- The extension is to be constructed of local handmade red bricks with a zinc roof and double glazed timber doors and windows.
- The doors and windows are much larger than those in the original Cottage giving the extension a more lightweight and modern appearance and larger elements of natural light.
- A zinc roof with the existing rear extension and new extension.
- New windows are to be formed in the existing rear extension, providing far reaching views onto the field
beyond and providing natural light into the kitchen and utility. The scale of the windows within the existing extension are in keeping with the original Cottage. - The existing front door provides the main access to the Cottage. In addition to this a new door opening is to be formed in the eastern side of the existing extension to provide direct access from the countryside to the utility boot room. This also provides direct access to the dwelling from the parking area.
- The proposed ground floor accommodation has a larger footprint than the first floor. This enable flexible living with a possible third bedroom or office on the ground floor.
