South Barn – ADC

Cast concrete appears throughout, forming robust benches and counter surfaces that balance the lighter timber finishes. Together, these materials create a durable environment that both maintains the barn’s simplicity and restrained material palette. 

Craft and collaboration were central to the design process. Studio Weave worked closely with Imphouse maker Mike and his team, developing many details directly on site. A hands-on approach like this allows interventions to respond to the pre-existing setting and structure and leaves the building with a bespoke quality. 

The project extends outward into the landscape. In partnership with Tom Massey Studio, the architects established a long-term vision for the garden that continues their interest in resilient, low-maintenance planting. Decades-old concrete was removed, where necessary to improve drainage, and crushed to be reused as mulch, minimising imported resources.

The house has been orientated against the prevailing wind to minimise heat loss, aligning with the barn’s original agricultural intention. With energy provided by an air source heat pump, insulation throughout and double glazing, the result is a robust building with low running costs. 

For Studio Weave, the project represents an exploration of “deep reuse.” As founder Je Ahn explains, “You cannot design the feel of an aged building – we knew it was important to retain the elements that expressed the passing of time. Our aim was to open up the barn, both practically and metaphorically, to make it more accessible for its new inhabitants. Repurposing materials found on site for both their narrative and practical value allowed us to preserve the building’s story while giving it a new future.” 

By embedding the building within its agricultural setting and allowing the marks of age to remain, South Barn becomes both a home and a continuation of the farm’s story, a model for how rural buildings might be reimagined without erasure.