New Devon Farmhouse – blending the traditional with the contemporary
Set on the edge of a wooded valley amidst rolling hills and overlooking the Exe Valley, this new build farmhouse replaced an older farmhouse that had been in need of modernisation. The original farmhouse offered limited accommodation, did not sit well in its surroundings and was not energy efficient. The opportunity was therefore taken to start again rather than try to improve the existing house – with our clients bravely taking on the job of knocking down the old house themselves!
Our brief was to create a one-off home that would be contemporary, light in feel and incorporate sustainable design, integrating seamlessly with the farm complex and into the wider landscape, yet using a similar footprint to the original house. Replacing the farmhouse gave us the opportunity to subtly shift the orientation of the house and to arrange the spaces so as to lead to carefully framed views throughout the home, surprising and delighting in all directions.
The material palette and contemporary detailing complement and contrast with the more traditional farmhouse form that commands the central part of the property. The natural stone walls, topped by a slate roof, emphasise the farmhouse aesthetic, whilst the zinc clad elements provide a contemporary distinction to the ‘extensions’ to the house. To minimise the visual impact, the service areas and garage are disguised under a green roof planted with wildflowers, and this also serves to bed the rear of the house into its surroundings.
The result is a modern home that, whilst having the appearance of being a modest rubblestone, slate roofed farmhouse, is also inter-twined with the contemporary elements of zinc cladding, wildflower roofs, a sunken courtyard, spacious rooms and extensive glazing maximising views and natural light.
We are proud to feature and promote in our architecture magazine this new Devon farmhouse blending old with new.
