EBBA Architects Transforms Cornwall Barn into Calm Sanctuary
London-based studio renovates a historic agricultural barn, emphasizing spatial clarity and material simplicity.
1Barn Renovation Project
London studio EBBA Architects has completed a significant renovation of a former agricultural barn located in Cornwall. The project involved stripping away years of incremental, ill-suited alterations that had cluttered the original structure. The goal was to restore the building's inherent spatial character while modernizing the interior for contemporary family living.
2Restoring Spatial Clarity
Founding director Benni Allan emphasized the importance of finding clarity in the building's form. By removing later, disjointed additions, the architects aimed to return the barn to its original simplicity. The design process focused on adding new elements only where they felt most appropriate to enhance the existing architectural narrative.
3Pavilion Extension Design
The project expanded the total floor area by nearly one-third through the addition of a pavilion-like structure. This new space is framed by distinctive columns of white stone, creating a clear visual separation from the original barn. The extension features a skylit dining area and lounge that opens onto a covered colonnade.
4Interior Spatial Layout
The ground-floor plan centers on an existing staircase, which serves as an anchor for the layout. A storage and bathroom core surrounds this central point, effectively separating the kitchen from the living areas. This arrangement allows for a flexible flow, accommodating the diverse needs of a large family living in the space.
5Materiality and Finishes
Interior finishes prioritize simplification, utilizing plaster walls, concrete floors, and gridded white-painted timber ceilings. The architects highlighted material junctions, such as an oak column in the kitchen rotated to reveal its connection to flitch plates. These design choices create a calm, gallery-like atmosphere that contrasts with the building's rustic agricultural history.
6Exterior Architectural Moves
The exterior design maintains the barn's original aesthetic while integrating new materials. Reused cedar shingles were maintained on the existing structure, while the new extension utilizes white stone masonry. This stone references the walls found on the adjacent street, grounding the modern addition within the local architectural context of the area.
7Playful Structural Details
Beyond the simple barn silhouette, the architects introduced playful elements to the design. The extension's roof stops short of the stone column edges, emphasizing the junction between the two structures. This deliberate exaggeration of building joints serves as a serious architectural move that adds character to the otherwise minimalist, serene living environment.
8Architectural Design Philosophy
EBBA Architects views this project as a sanctuary designed to frame the changing weather throughout the year. By treating the extension as an independent object reaching into the garden, the studio successfully balanced historical preservation with modern functionality. This project reflects the firm's ongoing interest in creating flexible, high-quality residential spaces.