Brays Cottage

Like so many agricultural conversions from the 1980’s, the accommodation created at the time now seems inadequate by our current standards. This contemporary extension to previously converted farm outbuildings in North Norfolk, both compliments and contrasts with the original house as well as forming a sheltered courtyard area at the heart of the design.

The brief was to create something that not only made a complete break with the traditional appearance but also gave a very different spatial feel.

The building has been constructed to very high thermal standards using a 200mm deep timber frame constructed on site with shredded newspaper insulation. The windows are made with thermally broken aluminium which have a very long life span and can also be recycled in the future if required. Internally the ply flooring boasts an underfloor heating system which connects to the existing boiler. The mono-pitched roof is an agricultural panel system with a recycled content, constructed to high thermal performance levels. Inside, ply floors and wall panelling gives a clean, modern feel to the interior.

The building sits well in its surroundings and the vertical cedar cladding complements the original details of the existing buildings.