Build It January issue excerpt

readers’ homes 21

The original external wall of the barn has been left
exposed internally, highlighting the boundaries
between the old building and new extension

“The metal covering was another factor that had come up in the
course of our conversations with English Heritage.”

After all their careful groundwork at the design phase, Debbie and
Laurence’s extension plans achieved planning permission and listed
building consent without any issues. “We submitted a supporting
statement that outlined how we’d adapted our plans based on the
advice we received from English Heritage,” says Laurence. “It was
entirely in accordance with what they wanted, which meant there
were no problems when we submitted the formal application.”

A new set of doors was installed to help connect Smooth build process
the new extension with the rest of house
With full consent in the bag, Laurence and Debbie brought in
Adam played with different layouts, using computer software to their son-in-law, Jonathan Rogers, director of JDS Properties
model where sunlight would fall at various times of the day and year. & Developments, to handle the construction. As no alterations
were being made to the original building as part of the project, the
The choice of external materials palette was an important factor Osbornes were able to carry on living in the barn while work was
in setting the modern extension apart from the original barn. In going on. “The team were outside for the majority of the time,” says
the end, the couple put together a proposal for a single-storey Debbie. “They brought a container onto site, which formed their
cedar clad addition with a zinc roof. “The pitch was about 15°, office and a storage place for tools. There was never much of a need
which would have been too low to put slate on,” says Laurence. for them to come into the main house.” While the couple chose
not to get hands on with the build, it was handy being on site every
day to keep a close eye on progress. “We were able to make small
changes as we went along,” says Debbie.

A steel portal frame with timber infill panels was chosen as the
structural system. “The metal skeleton was important for us to
achieve the big open spans inside the extension,” says contractor
Jonathan. Cedar cladding has been used to cover up any areas of
exposed metal. The addition is topped with a pitched timber roof
and finished with a standing seam zinc covering.

One of the key construction challenges revolved around uniting
the contemporary extension with the original period dwelling. “We
were working with an old barn with walls that weren’t truly straight
– they flared out towards the bottom,” says Jonathan. “Tying a
modern addition into a heritage building can be tricky.”

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