New House at Walk Barn Farm

Suffolk, England, United Kingdom

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New House at Walk Barn Farm

Suffolk, England, United Kingdom

Firm

Charles Barclay Architects

Type

Residential › Private House

YEAR

2012

Photos

David Grandorge (21)

This project is a low-energy timber weekend residence located on a former pig farm near the Suffolk coast. This modern ‘prairie house,’ with three wings reaching out into the landscape, can be used as a solitary rural retreat, or a guest wing opened up for use by family and friends.

The front elevation resists cold winds from the north; the south elevation is largely glazed, framing views of the heathland, the farm pond, and an avenue of oak trees. There is no garden but a raised terrace between the wings provides a vantage point, sheltered from the wind.

The exterior is finished with pine ‘board on board’ vertical cladding stained black and mounted on a red-brick plinth, an echo of vernacular farm buildings in the area. Polished concrete floors, raw galvanized steel window frames, and an industrial-looking wood burner give the house interior a robust feel. The camera-like rooms capture and amplify the ever-changing quality of daylight in the coastal setting.