The Granary, an 18th-century model farm building in the New Forest National Park, has undergone a significant renovation. Studio BAD worked with assistant TV & film director Jason Rickwood and café owner Fizz Swayne to design a scheme that converts and infills existing open carport space on the ground floor, reimagining the building.
The building was designed by renowned architect Samuel Wyatt and is part of a late 18th-century agricultural homestead. The current owners wanted to increase the internal space, which would allow them to reconfigure the plan of the house and create an additional bedroom upstairs.
Darren Bray, director of Studio BAD architects, explains that the journey to secure planning permission was not straightforward. Although The Granary is not listed itself, it sits within the curtilage of a listed building and within the New Forest National Park, which had an impact on the planning process.
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The initial planning permission refusal was based on conservation officers’ concerns over the impact of the work on the character and appearance of the property. However, after modifying the design proposal and taking it to a committee, the permission was granted by a majority vote.
The property is the full-time home of the current owners, who had lived in the property for a few years before deciding to make alterations. The renovation has transformed the property to suit modern living, with additional space to entertain and flexibility for additional bedrooms when needed.
Darren Bray notes that the sensitive changes respect the heritage of the building and have transformed the property to suit modern living. New additions to the ground floor are deliberately set back from the existing structure and expressed in contemporary glazing, allowing the historic fabric to remain legible.
Inside, original brickwork and timber framing are left exposed, while new insertions are kept minimal. The brickwork has been brought into the interior, creating a textured feel and highlighting the character of the original architecture.
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The renovation has resulted in a light and spacious ground floor, with plenty of room to entertain. The young family who owns the property can now stay in the home they love, with the additional space and flexibility they need.
Studio BAD’s design has transformed The Granary into a modern home that still honors its past. They achieved this by making sensitive changes that respect the building’s heritage.
The Granary’s renovation demonstrates the importance of preserving historic buildings while adapting them for modern use. By working with planning specialists and local authorities, Studio BAD was able to design a scheme that respected the building’s heritage and met the needs of its owners.
