welsh Barn conversion

west wales

Creating the home of your dreams can be an exciting yet daunting prospect. A family of five in West Wales had their hearts set on bringing a 120-year-old derelict stone barn back to life. They wanted to create a comfortable family home that could easily welcome larger groups. One child used a wheelchair, so it was also essential that we designed the new home with access in mind.

The family’s philosophy of minimal impact aligned with ours, so we explored the use of local hand-crafted materials and eco-friendly features throughout the design. We worked with the thermal mass of existing stone walls and added hemp and lime insulation on the interior. Oak members for the timber frame components were harvested from the adjacent woodland, where the trees would otherwise have been used for chipping. Roof slates, timber joists and floorboards were reclaimed locally. Grey water recycling and composting toilets contributed to the overall sustainability goals of the project.