Barn Conversion and Extension -Diamond Farm Holiday Park.
This project was extremely satisfying to be involved with. Our Client asked us to ‘rescue’ an old agricultural barn that was in serious danger of structural collapse and transform it into a new long-term leisure facility.
Initially we were asked to undertake a feasibility study that looked at two options – the first was to divide and extend the barn to create up to 4 No. holiday lets; the second was to transform the original barn into a new café and extend at the rear with 2 No. holiday lets.
The second option was selected on the proviso that the café could be converted to holiday lets at a later date if needed.
The barn is approximately 100 years old with distinctive red brick elevations and geometric red roof tiles. Structurally it was in poor condition and a new roof structure consisting of oak trusses & purlins was designed and installed. This allowed us to design a new roof with good levels of insulation and a new boarded soffit.
The original red brick elevations were carefully repaired and re-pointed externally & internally using lime mortar with original elements, such as joist sockets, left exposed to enhance the character of the building and provide historic reference.
New timber windows & doors were incorporated into existing openings providing good quality natural light and improved thermal efficiency.
Internally, the barn provides a generous seating space with a small commercial kitchen at one end and toilet facilities at the other. Bifold doors lead out on to the original yard that has been re-paved to provide a generous, sunny seating area.
The barn is located adjacent to the Brean-to-Weston cycle route and is proving a very popular destination.
At the rear of the barn are two new holiday lets. These are single storey and provide spacious, accessible accommodation with gardens & decking. Both lets have stunning views looking north across open farmland towards Brean Down and the Mendip hills.
The holiday lets are in fair-faced brick that closely matches the barn, together with a contemporary over-sailing monopitched roof with panels of cedar cladding above large glazed sliding doors and well-proportioned windows. Generous rooflights bring natural light into the kitchen and bathroom spaces.
The holiday lets use infra-red radiant heating panels that are wall-hung and printed graphically to suit the room décor. These are run using a large photo-voltaic array located close-by on a neighbouring barn roof.
To the rear of the barn development is a landscaped car park with spaces for the café and holiday accommodation.
