Paddock Barn B&BA cranked-gable Oxfordshire barn

Unapologetically contemporary, yet sensitive to the garden setting and local vernacular

Set among a plentiful garden and apple orchard in Oxfordshire, England, a large family home and bountiful site are the foundation for a substantial new extension. Spurred by a family member’s homecoming after years abroad, the addition is designed to function either as a seamlessly connected part of the main home or as a

private, self-contained guesthouse. The addition is oriented with great sensitivity to the existing garden and local conservation guidelines. Careful consideration of levels, thresholds, and views expands on the strategic siting,  immersing the extension in the garden, even more so than the existing home.

The form of the new volume is distinct from the existing house, something the owners encouraged, yet remains sympathetic to the vernacular cranked-gable barns that populate the Oxfordshire countryside. Inside, the volume’s form gives rise to vaulted ceilings, imbuing the space with an uplifting quality.