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Barn
Conversions
The way of life that gave us the wonderful tradition of stone and timber barns has long since vanished from the countryside and for many farmers, to maintain such buildings, is an expense they can ill afford and so neglect and disrepair sets in.
The restoration and re-use of vernacular buildings represents a large proportion of our work and this Sussex barn is a typical example. All later additions and accretions have been stripped away to reveal the classic lines of the original barn.
Inside, there is a magnificent oak roof structure. Oak was mainly chosen for building purposes for its strength, close grain and resistance to decay and is instantly recognisable by its characteristic medullary ray markings.
As farming methods changed and the rural population gravitated to the cities, others were quick to see the potential for turning empty schools, churches and barns into magnificent houses. One of the most attractive aspects of such buildings is the vastness of the spaces within. Undivided by walls, doors and corridors, these buildings allow a freedom of design that is liberating for both architect and client, knowing that the successful transformation of such spaces is an exciting prospect and a most stimulating and worthwhile challenge.
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