“David Nossiter Architects are the creative genius behind this stunning Suffolk barn conversion.” The Sunday Times For more information, visit: davidnossiter.com/project/church-hill-barn/ “Winner of best restoration in last year’s Sunday Times British Homes Awards, this 5,000 sq ft barn conversion by the London-based architect David Nossiter shows how cathedral-like spaces can be made liveable…” The Sunday Times “To tackle an existing building like this, you have to take a forensic approach to create a piece of architecture within the existing structure. This is a prime example of someone knowing when to stop adding layers” Daily Telegraph Homebuilding & Renovating Awards “A dilapidated barn complex on the Essex/Suffolk borders has been rescued and restored to create this highly individual home. “David Nossiter Architects’ design features open plan spaces and uses materials reclaimed from the demolition of two structures that were beyond renovation. The main gallery space is both a dramatic centrepiece of the home and is also used for community events.” The Sunday Times British Homes Awards 2017 Winner’s Citation The site, situated on the Essex/Suffolk borders within the landscape immortalised by Constable was originally the home farm of the nearby Assington Hall Estate, destroyed by fire in the 1950s. It consists of a collection of farm buildings forming a courtyard. The centrepiece of the site with views over the rural landscape is a large barn of cathedral-like proportions. Cruciform in plan with a collection of smaller spaces surrounding it, the arrangement sought to provide shelter for different farming activities under a single roof. The barn complex is the legacy of one of its pioneering exponents of the model farm movement John Gurdon Esquire, the original owner. The clients purchased the buildings in dilapidated condition. Having sold their own property in nearby Colchester they decided to reside in a caravan on the site during the build. A large component of the renovations consisted of the refurbishment of the roof. In order to allow the existing structure to be viewed internally but still conform to modern standards of thermal performance, the roof is a ‘warm roof construction’ meaning that all of the insulation is located on the exterior of the roof above a new timber deck. Roofing slates and timber materials were salvaged from the other agricultural structures on the site that were too decayed to be usefully renovated. The external walls were insulated with sheep’s wool and clad with larch timber, which has been left to weather naturally. The original openings have been simply fenestrated with glazing set back from the external wall line. Oversized bespoke glazed sliding doors fill the hipped gable porches, allowing views from the courtyard towards open fields. Two three-metre square roof lights allow day light deep into the interior of the eight-metre tall central spaces. Polished concrete flooring flows throughout. It was decided early on during the design process to keep the spaces as open plan as possible. Where necessary partitions and screens are designed as over scaled furniture. Freestanding and constructed from birch faced plywood sheets, they help to organise the spaces, providing privacy for bathrooms and sleeping areas. As well as being an impressive living space, the cathedral like central space is used for community events in the village. A biomass boiler feeds underfloor heating assisted by a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system. The project won a Sunday Times British Homes Award for Renovation of the Year and a Designer Kitchen & Bathroom Award for Kitchen of the Year Under £25K. It was shortlisted for the Daily Telegraph Homebuilding & Renovating Awards and the Architect’s Journal Retrofit Awards. The project has been widely published by both the mainstream and the design press.