Barrow House / ID Architecture

Hailed as a “worthy and standout winner” of the prize at the grand final of the 2019 LABC National Building Excellence Awards in December, it features 18-metre-long sliding doors and a projecting master bedroom pod offering impressive views over the natural landscape and Bronze-Age Barrow. The simple above-ground barn form is true to the agricultural aesthetic of the area and was built with durable steel cladding – designed to gradually rust, turning orange then brown , as it is exposed to the elements. This structure sits on the semi-subterranean concrete plinth forming the ground floor entrance level, with the wildflower planted flat roof continuing, and connecting with the surrounding meadow. An extensive scheme of landscaping, local orchard planting, wildflower meadows and new tree planting all help in creating a home that is sensitively embedded within the landscape, reinstating the type of rolling meadow that would have once been abundant in the Wolds.

The planning process was positive, and thanks to open minded and trusted clients the application was unanimously supported at planning committee. The delivery of the project on site was aided by the Client’s family business that delivers civil engineering projects. Simple but crisp detailing further reinforced the simple forms and importance of the landscape that establishes Barrow House within its setting.