When Annicka Locket and James Terry bought their manor farmhouse it came with a variety of outbuildings, the biggest of which was an old industrial barn.
"We used this building for all sorts of things, including as a play space – complete with climbing wall – for our kids," says Annicka.
But after several years the barn, which was constructed mainly of breeze blocks with a metal roof, began leaking and was demanding regular repairs, which prompted the couple to explore what they could do with it.
The next logical step was to commission a local architect who could help them develop their own ideas and who they knew could take them through each vital stage – design, planning permission and overseeing the build. Luckily, Annicka and James had already had dealings with Mole Architects and felt no need to look any further.
Project overview
- Location Saxmundham, East Suffolk
- Project Self-build
- Construction method Timber frame
- House size 225sq m
- House type Two-storey brick detached property
- Architectural designers Mole Architects
Following the footprint
The couple decided they wanted to use the barn’s footprint as the basis for a property they could rent out, but which could also provide their extended family with spill-over space from the main farmhouse – a place to gather in and enjoy together.
"Initially, we were looking for something interesting and funky – something a bit standout and modern – but as the architects scoped out our options we kept coming back to the materials that were on that plot of land," says Annicka. "As much as we wanted to push the envelope, the only things that were working were ideas that took from the language of the existing buildings."
While planning permission was obtained without too many new iterations needed, the fact that the intended building would be taller than the original one called for a revision.
A planning condition that the new building roof ridge could be no higher than the surrounding barn roofs meant there was a limit on the angle of the roof, the result being that the foundations had to be sunk lower to maintain comfortable internal ceiling heights.
"Although this was a constraint, it did help with bedding the building into the site," says project architect Susie Newman.
Time flexibility
One aspect of the project that Annicka says worked out particularly well was the fact that there wasn’t so much importance on having a strict deadline, with it being built partly as a rental.
"It made a difference for the builders and the build itself as there wasn’t the pressure of an immovable completion date – it was one less stress for all of us," she says. "We’ve had previous projects where our family, as well as the builders, have been under pressure to complete within a certain timescale."
Any hiccups to the build were purely Covid related. "Bricks became scarce and expensive – and so did the bricklayers," says Annicka. "Plus the cost of steel went up. All those market forces made life harder for us, but it was never an existential threat."
Interior layout
The initial inclinations for a slightly off-the-wall house design were ultimately turned on their head, as the most radical aspect of this building proved not to be the exterior aspect but the internal layout.
Thinking logically about how best this home could be enjoyed, the pair opted for a ‘topsy-turvy’ layout. "We realised it made sense to house the communal spaces on the top floor to maximise the views, while placing bedrooms on the ground floor," says Annicka.
"As dramatic as it would have felt to have been in a top-floor bedroom with vaulted ceilings and amazing countryside views, it seems such a waste for only two people to experience that."
When it came to the layout, the configuration of the rooms was determined by the fact that the house was going to be used both for hosting family and also for renting out.
"It was important to make the home fully accessible, particularly for wheelchair users as the client’s parents, one of whom is in a wheelchair, would be spending extended time in the house, too," says project architect Susie Newman.
"Rethinking the external layout and how cars moved around the site was also part of the brief, to avoid cars congesting the site and keeping them out of view."
Practical choices
"With its primary function as holiday accommodation in mind, the design needed to be robust and hard-wearing, and easy to maintain," says Susie.
"Part of the brief was to give it a light touch – for the interior we wanted a look that respected the character of the setting and farmhouse, and which felt part of the site. Undeniably, part of the beauty within is the way in which style elements have been shaped in a way that softens and complements the more practical necessities."
As with any home worth its salt, the kitchen design is at the heart. Here, a core clad in cherry wood, meticulously detailed and coordinated with the kitchen supplier and the joinery team, helps to divide the open-plan living space into defined zones – a kitchen and dining area to the east, a sitting area to the west and a snug to the north.
The rich red timber lining is wonderfully warm in tone, and hides much of the necessary equipment in the home, including a home lift, all the kitchen cabinets and living room media wall.
Moving all this equipment and kitchen to the centre of the plan has also allowed for very large windows either side of the living space that is uncluttered by TVs, kitchen cabinets and so on, making the space light and airy.
Led by experience
Annicka says that she and James credit most of the project’s success to Mole Architects.
"During design development it was definitely a two-way process but we were led by the architects' experience as well as their principles in so many areas – not least where eco considerations were involved," she explains.
"As a matter of best practice, they designed a low-energy home that performs to Passivhaus standards with triple glazing, a highly insulated external fabric as well as an air source heat pump (ASHP), mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) and solar PV panels all integral to the home."
"Mole Architects’ challenge was to execute what they wanted in a way that was both practical and within budget," says Annicka. "They succeeded in that respect, and as a result we’re more than happy with the outcome."
For more inspiration, explore this colourful extended home in London that connects with its surroundings or this ultra-modern cottage that measures just three metres wide.
