This stone built Warwickshire Farmhouse sits amongst a group of traditional barns and outbuildings on a secluded site positioned on a steep valley side in open countryside. The owner approached Hayward Smart Architects with a brief that included the design of an extension to provide a large open plan kitchen, dining and living space along with re-ordering of existing rooms within the main house. Due to the sloping site levels and stone mullioned windows to the existing kitchen, used as the families main living space, connection to the external space and the far-reaching views across the valley were limited on the northern side of the 3 storey building. The resulting, unashamedly, contemporary extension sits as a zinc clad & highly glazed box atop an extended garden wall improving the connection to the adjacent farm buildings and framing the incredible views across the valley.. The choice of materials used both inside and out ensure a harmony of finish, texture and colour. A language of plywood joinery throughout the property serves as a coherent link between the new extension and rooms in the existing house.