Off Grid Barn Conversion – John Whiting Architecture

Small holding site near Warmington, Oxfordshire.

Creating new dwellings on rural sites often involves converting existing agricultural buildings. Inflexible planning guidance can lead to unimaginative designs where the original form of the building determines the end result . The client was looking for a more holistic approach to the long-term sustainability of living and working on the land and was keen that the re-purposed building should visually represent these aims. The idea of living off-grid also has particular appeal and relevance right now, so this design concept seeks to explore options for reducing reliance on centralised utility services.

The existing building is typical of many disused agricultural buildings, a simple framed structure with corrugated cladding. Its greatest asset being an established building footprint and volume within which to create a new use. The proposal is to strip back the building to its structural frame and insert new functions and spaces; a large food producing hothouse, workshops, storage areas, renewable energy provision, water storage and recycling, and a modest three bedroom dwelling.

Project
Off Grid Barn Conversion

Client
Private client

Contact

Email — jw@johnwhiting.co.uk
Mobile — 07818 443753

Instagram — @architectjw

Correspondence address —
14 Bates Road
Brighton
East Sussex
BN1 6PG

Office location —
12 Richmond Parade
Brighton
BN2 9QD

Site credit — madebycargo.com