The Brick Barn: A Modern English Farmhouse in Norfolk - Remodelista
When Lynch Architects of London set out to convert a pair of 17th century barns in the North Norfolk village of Thursford into an idyllic clean lined meets crumbly country... Photography via The Modern House, unless otherwise noted. ...escape their aim was to create a compound that appeared deliberately timeless suggesting that works have been done over a long period of time without a single author as they say The architects purchased the property in 2010 and restored and modified the structures over three years as vacation accommodations for their practice. The barn has been put to many uses over the years, including as a bike repair shop. Lynch Architects removed the ground-floor interior walls to create an open kitchen/living space, but restored and preserved the exterior walls of brick and flint. The new oak floor is finished with a Danish oil; it was laid over a new slab concrete base and outfitted with radiant floor heating. To keep the barn-like quality of the interior, the architects introduced an ingenious wall of tongue-and-groove paneling detailed with hidden doors and cupboards. The doors lead to a bedroom, bathroom, and stairs. The designers opened the room to the outdoors by inserting a floor-to-ceiling slatted window (with concealed shutters that close for privacy). Two exterior steps—of hinged tongue-and-groove-boarding that double as storage—connect to a concealed stairway of birch plywood. Above L: The design, known as a Norfolk winder stair, is detailed with a rope banister. The window has a deep plywood frame that serves as a bedside ledge. The first floor bedroom has inset birch ply shelving and exposed rafters. The barn adjoins a historic cottage that Lynch Architects also overhauled. The vertical windows integrate well with the weathered brick and flint. The structure sits on the village green. Here are some more barns that stopped us in our tracks.