From workshop to holiday home – Larch Barn in Sidmouth

— 27 Sep 2017

Larch Barn, located in the picturesque village of Sidbury in East Devon, has been transformed from a barn into a stunning holiday cottage.

Jonathan Rhind Architects recently completed the barn conversion, upgrading the timber-framed building into a two-bedroom, two-bathroom bungalow for holiday lets.

Within the grounds of a listed cottage, the barn was previously used as a children’s playroom with a separate garage and workshop. Our team worked on the reinforcement and weather-proofing of the structure for change of use to residential accommodation.

Pete Thompson, Jonathan Rhind Architects’ architectural technologist said: “We are extremely proud of the outcome of this project as it is a stunning holiday home.

“There were lots of intricate and bespoke details on this project which required careful consideration. We installed a fully-glazed main entrance screen to ensure weather proofing within the existing framework and it was essential to consider the structural reinforcement of the barn, with new timber trussed rafters.

“The building has real character, with vaulted ceilings and exposed timbers, creating a domestic conversion with an external appearance that continues to complement the countryside around it.”

Bats had previously used the barn as a day roost and a key factor for the team was to incorporate provisions so the bats could continue to use the building in harmony with human residents. By using gaps between external timber cladding boards and using a breathable cladding detail instead of modern membranes, bats are now able to use the wall cavity.

With panoramic views of the Devon countryside, the bungalow was completed to a high specification, with underfloor heating, hardwood doors and windows, modern bathrooms and a spacious open-plan kitchen-dining-living area.

Our client said: “Living on a complicated site, it was clear from the outset that we needed to identify an architect with specialist knowledge of listed buildings and a proven track record in achieving great results in challenging situations”.

“JRA [Jonathan Rhind Architects] have not disappointed on either front.  From the start of the project their approach has been to work with us as clients to fully understand our objectives for the site and to identify ways of achieving these objectives that challenge the status quo, at the same time as complying with planning and building regulations”.

“The attention to detail in all aspects of the project has been outstanding – from the project management to the final designs, and the final designs for both Larch Barn and the listed cottage are a perfect blend of contemporary architecture and historic reflection”. 

“I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend JRA, in fact I’d actively encourage people with challenging listed sites to work with them – In fact, I enjoyed the process so much that perhaps it’s time to look for another project….?!”

For more information, please visit Lyme Bay Holidays: Larch Barn.