In a contemporary take on agricultural design, the directive for the barns at Higher Dorsley was to craft a welcoming new residence suffused with light and openness. Internally, the structure seamlessly integrates with the client’s carefully curated collection of art and furniture, while externally, the materials and design honour the essence of local agricultural constructions typical of the enchanting Devon countryside.

Situated in the heart of the South Hams countryside, Higher Dorsley stands as a Class Q barn conversion, a testament to utilizing national planning policy that repurposes redundant agricultural structures into 1-5 residential dwellings. Originally a series of open, single-story structures, the barns were reimagined and reconfigured to create a spacious single home, with recesses artfully integrated into the barn layout to delineate each space.

The new barns are an amalgamation of contemporary larch timber cladding, glass, and our Caradon Cornish Granite walling, all under a standing seam zinc roof. Built with timber framing, the structure is highly insulated, with heating provided by air-source heat pumps and underfloor heating.

The primary volume of the residence features a gable-end entrance framed by two sections of granite walls. Upon entry, one steps into the double-height kitchen and living area, flooded with natural light from a large glazed wall at the southern end, offering views of the courtyard garden and the picturesque Devon hedgerows. The exposed Douglas fir frame extends externally, the roof curving gracefully to create a covered seating space.