The Farmhouse project renovates and refurbishes an early 18th century Grade II listed barn within a conservation area in Holme Valley, West Yorkshire.

The farmhouse is part of a cluster of Grade II listed buildings whose grouping dates back to the 1500s, while the farmhouse itself dates to the 18th century. The Grade II listed barns had been split and converted from agricultural buildings to three dwellings in the late 90’s. The conversion had been done sensitivity to a high quality, respecting the character of the building, however, there was scope to improve the spatial arrangement to better suit the client’s lifestyle.

The client’s brief was to relocate the kitchen into a larger space that incorporates an island and provides direct access to the garden, while also rationalising circulation and spatial organisation throughout the house. There was an emphasis on making circulation areas more functional and usable, alongside retaining and celebrating the buildings original features. The brief also included exploring options to extend the existing snug lean-to space.

The existing internal layout was largely shaped by the historic timber beam structure, which, in being retained, resulted in multiple level changes throughout the house. While this successfully preserved and celebrated the building’s fabric, it also created a sense of spatial confusion. During the feasibility stage, we worked with the clients to explore ways of rationalising these level changes in order to create better spatial clarity.

The proposals worked with the existing structures, rationalising circulation spaces, creating a larger kitchen and forming new visual links through the house, all whilst capturing light and views.

In particular, the stairs have been completely reimagined with new joinery connecting the multiple levels of the house. The new stair joinery not only connects the ground and first floors, but provides seating, storage and a lightwell.

Our favourite moment is a new window between the hallway and dining area – it sits above the bench on the dining side but at floor level to the hallway. This allows light to reach deep into the plan, whilst creating better visual links through the spaces.