# EBBA Architects Transforms Cornwall Barn into Minimalist Sanctuary London studio restores agricultural heritage while adding a modern pavilion extension. - **Source:** [Dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-09 - **Topic:** [culture](https://brifing.si/c/culture) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/bb28b0fc-058b-4335-8370-ec89b58781ff ## Restoring Agricultural Heritage London-based EBBA Architects recently completed the transformation of a former agricultural barn in Cornwall. The project focused on stripping away years of ill-suited, incremental alterations that had obscured the building's original simplicity. By removing these disjointed additions, the studio aimed to restore the structure's inherent spatial character and clarity. ## Expanding with Modern Pavilion The renovation increased the total floor area by nearly one-third through the addition of a new pavilion-like extension. This modern structure is framed by distinctive columns of white stone, designed to read as an independent object that reaches into the garden rather than a direct continuation of the barn. ## Strategic Interior Layout The ground-floor plan centers around an existing staircase, which now serves as a core for storage and bathroom facilities. This central anchor effectively separates the open-plan kitchen and living areas. Full-height openings connect the original barn to the new extension, creating a seamless flow between the dining and lounge spaces. ## Materiality and Simplification Interior finishes prioritize a pared-back aesthetic, utilizing plaster walls, concrete flooring, and gridded white-painted timber ceilings. The design team emphasized material junctions, such as an oak column in the kitchen rotated to highlight its connection to flitch plates. These details create a calm, gallery-like atmosphere throughout the family home. ## Architectural Playful Elements While the exterior maintains the appearance of a simple barn, the project incorporates deliberate, serious architectural moves. Playful elements include the exaggeration of structural junctions and the visual contrast between textured stone columns and clear floor surfaces. These choices provide a unique character that balances historical form with contemporary design. ## External Design Choices The original barn structure remains clad in reused cedar shingles, which were replaced only where necessary to maintain integrity. In contrast, the new extension utilizes white stone masonry, a material choice intended to reference the walls found on the adjacent street, grounding the modern addition within its local architectural context. ## Flexible Living Arrangements Founding director Benni Allan emphasized that the design aims to accommodate the diverse needs of a large family. By creating flexible arrangements in the planform, the house functions as a calm sanctuary for daily life. The sliding doors allow the interior to open directly onto a covered colonnade, enhancing indoor-outdoor connectivity. ## Context of Studio Practice This project follows other notable works by EBBA Architects, including a Marylebone cafe featuring clay plaster walls and a London apartment lined with Douglas fir. The Cornwall barn conversion demonstrates the firm's ongoing interest in material junctions and the careful balance between preserving historical structures and introducing modern, functional interventions. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.dezeen.com/2026/11/09/ebba-architects-dutch-barn/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._