Brick Barn
Agriculturally-inspired new-build house in Oxfordshire
Brick barn house is a new agriculturally-inspired dwelling located on a sensitive site,
a picturesque location at the edge of a small hamlet on the fringes of Oxford. The steeply sloped infill plot between three listed buildings, demanded a sensitive approach.
Having purchased the site with refused planning permission for a new dwelling, the owner was looking for a team with heritage expertise that could create a design to maximise the potential of the site while addressing the constraints and challenges due to the levels and the proximity of the listed buildings.
Collaborating closely with the wider team we carefully analysed the site and its grain, identifying a location for the building that would minimise its impact on the surrounding listed buildings. The proposals embed the building in the centre of the site, helping to reduce its mass, a new orchard is proposed to the front section to maintain the openness of the site and preserve the setting of the listed buildings.
The proposed dwelling is L-shaped with steeply pitched roofs refencing the local vernacular, the two wings connected via a glazed link and the rooflines gently rising with the slope, to create the impression of a building nestled in the landscape. The mixed palette of materials includes brick, local stone and timber referencing the fringe location of the site and softening the buildings appearance. Barn-style openings create framed views of the surrounding countryside while minimising the amount of glazing.