Little West End Farm
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This barn house has a lovely open volume of space forming the main hall and living room area. Glazing the porch floods the interior with light. Staining the timber boarding over the rafters with a pale blue stain has created a beautiful contrast to the pale straw of the oak beams. The frame employs storey and a half trusses, one of our personal favourites as it brings the roof carpentry within reach where it can really be appreciated.
To exploit the full potential of an oak frame we recommend keeping one or more of the bays as an open volume space as is the case here, also to make a galleried landing from which the views can be enjoyed. This frame has an integral oak framed conservatory which forms the dining area of the kitchen seen here beyond the main living space. Twelve years on the clients still love the house and speak fondly of our help in creating this exceptionally beautiful home.
This view of the gallery shows the glazing of the porch gable. We had hoped to insert French doors opening onto a balcony but this was declined by the planners.
Reclaimed brick and simple ledge and batten doors complement the oak frame and colour washed sarking boarding.
This lean-to aisled conservatory extends the kitchen to make an attractive dining area with views over the garden to Old Winchester Hill.
This end of the house was predominantly a conventional masonry build but with an oak joisted ceiling to create a cosy and warm snug with wood-burner.
Viewed externally, timber weatherboarding and direct glazing of the conservatory and central porch bay all reveal that this is an oak framed ‘barn style house’. The site is highly sensitive as it lies within sight of Old Winchester Hill which is a National Nature Reserve and now lies within the newly formed South Downs National Park. The style of building found favour with the planners as the dwelling has the appearance of being converted from an existing barn on the site, a strategy that may be worth bearing in mind for certain planning applications.
“"We wanted to write to you to express our profound gratitude for the excellent work you have done on our building scheme. It cannot have been easy to pick up the project from another architect when there were still a number of issues unresolved, but you have done so brilliantly and remained calm throughout, even at fraught times. We really do appreciate that you have gone the extra mile for us. We have all enjoyed working with you and have been so impressed with the quality of your work."
Alastair, The Early Years Project
“"Thanks for the excellent job which has just been completed on the Oak Frame extension to the above property. Not only is the quality of the work faultless, it is a true work of art, which will bring endless enjoyment to me and my wife. The end result has surpassed our wildest expectations."
Ray Nicolaides
“"Just a quick note to say thank you for sending such a great team to do the work. As well as clearly being very hardworking and hugely skilled, Mick, Andy, Clark and Dave were all exceptionally pleasant, considerate and cheerful guys to have around, and as such a huge credit to Green Oak."
Julia, Crabfields Farm
“"Everyone is very impressed with the finished result and I thought I would just take the opportunity of belatedly giving my thanks to you and your team for a job very well done. I have submitted the bridge for a Civic Society award for next year and have every expectation of its success."
P White, Northholt & Greenford Countryside Park Manager
“"Seems a long time since we finished with the garden room project but we have to say that it has been a huge success in every aspect. The room has become the place of choice for visitors. I can guarantee that everyone, yes everyone who visits, is blown away by the frame."
Mel, Moat Farm