Berry Farm
Client: Private
Location: nr Ivybridge, South Hams
Project Team: MJM Structural Engineering, Mark Bickell Builders
Project Type: High-end Stone Barn Conversion and Bespoke Extension
Materials: Zinc-black corrugated roofing, open timber cladding, polished concrete, bespoke ply-lining
Architectural Features: Timber-clad entrance link, vaulted ply-lined interiors, bespoke timber staircase, landscape integration
Performance: Sensitive rural retrofit, enhanced thermal envelope, and landscape-integrated drainage
Reimagining a Dartmoor Farmstead: From Dark Interiors to Light-Filled Living
Located near Ivybridge in the South Hams, Berry Farm is a testament to how thoughtful architectural intervention can breathe new life into a traditional Devon stone barn.
Working within the constraints of Dartmoor National Park, we transformed a cramped, disconnected farmstead into a flowing, contemporary family home. By introducing a bespoke timber-clad link and a raw to refined material palette, we have reconciled the rugged agricultural vernacular with a sophisticated, light-filled interior that celebrates its rural context.
“The existing outbuilding has been integrated into the home through a carefully choreographed sequence of spaces and turns”
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Further Info
The Brief: Unlocking a Disconnected Heritage
Built into the slope of the land, the original farmhouse was only one room deep, with no real entrance or circulation spaces. This created a gloomy interior with a limited outlook, despite the stunning South Hams backdrop. The project aimed to create more space for family life by integrating an underutilised, traditionally built stone barn. Our goal was to solve the complex issues of access and circulation while creating a seamless connection between the house, the barn, and the landscape.
The Architectural Solution: A Journey from Raw to Refined
The design centres on a new heart to the home – a contemporary timber-clad entrance lobby that acts as the bridge between the original house and the converted barn.
The interior is choreographed as a journey through materials. At the new centre of the home, exposed stonework and a polished concrete floor tie the downstairs link to the ground, with large glazed screens opening the lobby to the garden. As you progress through the space, you step off the concrete onto a single timber step. At this moment, your view is shifted along the side of the barn to the rear door, and the double-height stairwell is revealed.
A bespoke timber stair reaches down into this space, leading the eye to the higher level, where the refined layers begin. As you ascend, the heavy materials are replaced with light timber, glazing, and clerestory panelling that frames views of the fields opposite. The journey concludes in the first-floor barn loft – now a generous family room. Here, a timber-lined vault hovers over the original stone walls, with rooflights creating a light, airy sanctuary that feels entirely disconnected from the once-gloomy farmstead.
Technical Excellence & Agricultural Vernacular
Externally, the materials are tied to the agricultural history of the site. We utilised stock bricks at the base and open timber cladding at the first floor to provide a contemporary yet sympathetic contrast. The traditional stonework of the barn is complemented by a modern black corrugated roof and sharp eaves detailing.
Beyond aesthetics, the project prioritised a “retrofit-first” approach. We stabilised and insulated the existing stone envelope while ensuring the new timber-clad link provides high levels of thermal performance, creating a home that is as energy-efficient as it is architecturally thoughtful.
Development
“The project has transformed the house and its connection to its garden”
On Site
