Church Farm House is a Grade II listed property set in beautiful gardens and grounds.  Comprising a variety of ad hoc barns and outbuildings, Snell David was approached to plan the reorganisation and renovation of the buildings after having been used as offices for several years.  The project was split into two key phases; the alterations and improvements to the farmhouse, and the conversion of the existing ‘glasshouse’ to create a habitable garden/pool room.  Snell David worked closely with the Local Authority conservation team throughout the development.

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Using the concept of the Kitchen as ‘the heart of the house’ a key intervention involved relocating the existing Kitchen from the west ‘yard-side’ of the property to the east ‘lawn-side’, to look out to the extensive gardens.  The new open plan kitchen and dining space flow between two original rooms which have been combined via a new large three-centred arched opening, an approach commended by the conservation officer for allowing free-flowing space whilst visually maintaining the proportions of the original rooms.  Other works to the main house involved the remodelling of first floor bedrooms and the creation of a master bedroom suite.

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The garden/pool room remains connected to the main house but serves as a flexible, contemporary open ‘entertainment’ space, in contrast to the traditional character of the main house and other outbuildings.

Snell David viewed the renovations as an opportunity to create appropriate contemporary architecture, to create an exciting contrast to the traditional nature of the existing property. 

 

Traditional and contemporary materials are used throughout; the entire west elevation of the outbuilding has been replaced by large expanses of glazed opening, whilst panels of flint wall neatly framed in galvanized steel, enrich the materiality of the elevations and create visual continuity and relationship with the house and outbuildings.  Three-centred arches formed in the existing red brick flank walls continue a more traditional theme and frame wonderful views and access to the beautiful gardens.