Snook Architects recreated a grade II 16th century brick barn positioned in Yorkshire, England into a modern open plan residence known as Cat Hill Barn. In order for the architects to win the approval of the regional planning officer, they presented a restrained aesthetic that worked with the original structure of the building. The original brick façade was maintained as exactly where the impressive trusses now holding up a new roof.
With its original and patina’;d brick facade the property settles into the rolling hills surrounding it with a historic appeal that belies the modern comforts inside. Even the central chimney stack does not give away the contemporary secret.
It is not till you enter the home that the secrets of a crisp white interior and concrete floors are exposed. Layered onto this are the line of horizontal bracing on the mezzanine glass rail method and the sleek geometry of the ultra modern day kitchen. These 21st century specifics are fairly great on their own, but presented in the context of the exposed trusses and ancient bricks and the visual story is lifted to a entire new level of WOW.
The geometric lines of the kitchen are stacked and staggered, alternating among hidden and exposed storage. The cook best vent is built into the counter to hold the linear lines of the cabinetry the principal focus with the exception of the streamlined island pendant.
The architects chose to position the bar overhang to the side, this permits for straightforward storage access to the dining location from the back of the island. With extended drawers and an exposed dish void, there is no want for a sideboard.
Had the cook-leading vented out the ceiling of the kitchen, its silhouette would have competed with the sculptural lines of the exposed trusses and beams.
The brick peninsula that divides the dining zone from the living space switches from a double volume height to a single volume as the ceiling drops down to develop a more intimate space for the social zone. Right here the wall of bricks presents each a wood niche on the side and a big, cozy fireplace on the front.
The furnishings are all kept to shades of grey to tie in with the concrete floor and act as a “cold” foil to the warmth of the bricks and trusses. Pops of yellows and blues continue the cold/hot colour story although a woven rug brings in an additional layer of texture.
The massive window keeps the living room feeling spacious although the high backed tufted couches adds in the cozy aspect. Even with the snow outdoors you just know that curling up on 1 of these sofas in front of the fire would be peaceful and serine way to commit a lazy day.
Upstairs a hallway mezzanine runs the length of the kitchen and dining areas just before turning into the private zones of the home. With the tempered glass rail system the mezzanine offers an invisible silhouette to the floor below. The glass panels also permit the light from the window glazings to flood the. When the sun goes down, recessed wall fixtures light the way.
there is one thing magical about aged wood and bricks, a single can only imagine the story’;s these centuries old features have witnessed. It tends to make you pause and believe.
Although the kitchen presented a sleek and streamlined modern aesthetic, the bathroom has a more organic and rustic appeal with its generous use of slate tiles. The combination of the slate, wood and brick textures delivers a Zen atmosphere complimented by the open rain shower.
The architects only received approval for this project on an appeal. Crucial to winning the support of the appeal officer was the restrained aesthetic that allowed the original scale of the barn to shine by means of by way of the double volume spaces, open floor plan and hilighted trusses and brickwork. Right after a lot determination and difficult work the project was realized and went on to win an RIBA award in both the regional category and the modest projects category.
Snook Architects
