This scheme provides annex accommodation and a studio to two lovely old barns in rural Northumberland. One barn was historically home to chickens, whilst the other is the home of a family of swifts; this gave rise to the coop + swoop nickname!
The historic barns have steeply pitched roofs which are evidence of their long lost original heather thatching; we were keen to maintain this proportion whilst breathing new life into the buildings which were in need of repair and development.
The greenbelt setting required a careful and sensitive approach, and so the design makes minimal changes to any proposed interventions and maintains the wonderful original proportions, adding just a touch of contemporary adjustments to the form. The openings are carefully designed to make the most of the sunpath and the views, and the materials maintain a faithfulness to the historic barns.
