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Agricultural Barn Conversion: Seven Homes from One Farmstead

  • An agricultural barn conversion and site-wide masterplan created seven distinctive homes, maximising the value of a redundant farmstead while retaining its historic character.
  • Completed Date: Completed 2004
  • Budget: Undisclosed
  • Location: Gloucestershire
  • Quantity Surveyor: Patrick Nurden
  • Contractor: Lancer Scott
  • Categories: Barn & Dutch Barn Conversions, Commercial, Industrial & Agricultural, Developer Residential & Strategic Land
  • Tags: Agricultural Barn Conversion, Barn Conversion Architects, Curved Architectural Design, Curved Walls, Farm Diversification, Gloucestershire Architects, Masterplanning, Multiple Dwelling Development
Completed agricultural barn conversion in the Gloucestershire courtyard at dusk, with warm light glowing through two tall glazed threshing-bay openings, retained red brick walls, single-storey homes and small landscaped garden areas.
Daylight view across the landscaped Bengrove Barns courtyard, with two tall dark-framed glazed openings in the two-storey brick range and a row of lower converted barn homes with timber doors and windows.
Illustrated aerial site plan of Bengrove Barns showing the C-shaped group of converted agricultural buildings, landscaped central courtyard, separate granary dwelling and surrounding Gloucestershire fields.
Illustrated floor plan showing part of the C-shaped Bengrove Barns complex divided into several homes around a shared courtyard, with curved walls and circular rooms breaking up the long linear buildings. During converting farm buildings the plan can be rather dull without some added interest.
Illustrated ground and first-floor plans for the detached granary at Bengrove Barns. The ground floor is organised around a circular entrance hall with curved doors leading to bedrooms and bathrooms, while a helical staircase rises to an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space.
Wide view of the completed Bengrove Barns courtyard, with retained red brick ranges enclosing gravel, paved paths and small lawned areas, plus tall contemporary glazing within the two-storey barn.
Long oblique view along a stone-paved courtyard at Bengrove Barns, with a continuous row of dark-framed full-height glazed doors set beneath the retained roof and beside original red brickwork.
Interior view through large dark-framed sliding glazed doors towards the landscaped Bengrove Barns courtyard, with a long single-storey brick range, timber doors, roof vents, paving and outdoor seating beyond.
View from the oak staircase into the double-height circular entrance hall at Bengrove Barns, with curved white walls and doors, a tall dark-framed window, exposed brick and a timber roof truss above.
Curved oak-topped balustrade sweeping around the stair opening in a first-floor kitchen, beside a large dark-framed window overlooking the landscaped courtyard at the Gloucestershire, agricultural barn conversion.
Warmly lit corridor within the Gloucestershire, agricultural barn conversions, with a curved white wall and matching curved door, oak flooring and joinery, an illuminated display niche and a row of retained timber beams overhead.
Wide view across an unfurnished completed first-floor living space at the Gloucestershire barn conversions, with oak flooring, exposed timber roof trusses, a vaulted white ceiling, retained brickwork and an open stairwell.
Side view of a contemporary oak staircase at the agricultural barn conversions, supported by slim black steel balusters, with strong sunlight casting diagonal shadows across the white wall and pale tiled floor.
Interior of an agricultural barn at Bengrove before conversion, with large weathered timber roof trusses, exposed brick piers and walls, corrugated roofing, stored materials, straw and a metal livestock gate.
Approach to Bengrove Farm before redevelopment, showing traditional low brick barns partly obscured by a large lightweight steel-framed agricultural shed with a damaged corrugated roof in the centre of the site. A feasibility assessment provides important information for converting farm buildings to maximise the value.
Several black-and-white cattle inside the working cow shed at Bengrove Farm, standing on straw beneath a lightweight corrugated roof that spans the older agricultural buildings.
View through brick gateposts and black metal gates towards converted red-brick farm buildings arranged around a central landscaped area in Gloucestershire.
Construction company laying grey paving and forming rectangular lawn areas beside a long converted red-brick barn, with gravel access and construction equipment nearby.
Long, low red-brick agricultural barn viewed across a field before conversion, with small openings, a tiled roof and later farm sheds behind.
  • Completed agricultural barn conversion in the Gloucestershire courtyard at dusk, with warm light glowing through two tall glazed threshing-bay openings, retained red brick walls, single-storey homes and small landscaped garden areas.
  • Daylight view across the landscaped Bengrove Barns courtyard, with two tall dark-framed glazed openings in the two-storey brick range and a row of lower converted barn homes with timber doors and windows.
  • Illustrated aerial site plan of Bengrove Barns showing the C-shaped group of converted agricultural buildings, landscaped central courtyard, separate granary dwelling and surrounding Gloucestershire fields.
  • Illustrated floor plan showing part of the C-shaped Bengrove Barns complex divided into several homes around a shared courtyard, with curved walls and circular rooms breaking up the long linear buildings. During converting farm buildings the plan can be rather dull without some added interest.
  • Illustrated ground and first-floor plans for the detached granary at Bengrove Barns. The ground floor is organised around a circular entrance hall with curved doors leading to bedrooms and bathrooms, while a helical staircase rises to an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space.
  • Wide view of the completed Bengrove Barns courtyard, with retained red brick ranges enclosing gravel, paved paths and small lawned areas, plus tall contemporary glazing within the two-storey barn.
  • Long oblique view along a stone-paved courtyard at Bengrove Barns, with a continuous row of dark-framed full-height glazed doors set beneath the retained roof and beside original red brickwork.
  • Interior view through large dark-framed sliding glazed doors towards the landscaped Bengrove Barns courtyard, with a long single-storey brick range, timber doors, roof vents, paving and outdoor seating beyond.
  • View from the oak staircase into the double-height circular entrance hall at Bengrove Barns, with curved white walls and doors, a tall dark-framed window, exposed brick and a timber roof truss above.
  • Curved oak-topped balustrade sweeping around the stair opening in a first-floor kitchen, beside a large dark-framed window overlooking the landscaped courtyard at the Gloucestershire, agricultural barn conversion.
  • Warmly lit corridor within the Gloucestershire, agricultural barn conversions, with a curved white wall and matching curved door, oak flooring and joinery, an illuminated display niche and a row of retained timber beams overhead.
  • Wide view across an unfurnished completed first-floor living space at the Gloucestershire barn conversions, with oak flooring, exposed timber roof trusses, a vaulted white ceiling, retained brickwork and an open stairwell.
  • Side view of a contemporary oak staircase at the agricultural barn conversions, supported by slim black steel balusters, with strong sunlight casting diagonal shadows across the white wall and pale tiled floor.
  • Interior of an agricultural barn at Bengrove before conversion, with large weathered timber roof trusses, exposed brick piers and walls, corrugated roofing, stored materials, straw and a metal livestock gate.
  • Approach to Bengrove Farm before redevelopment, showing traditional low brick barns partly obscured by a large lightweight steel-framed agricultural shed with a damaged corrugated roof in the centre of the site. A feasibility assessment provides important information for converting farm buildings to maximise the value.
  • Several black-and-white cattle inside the working cow shed at Bengrove Farm, standing on straw beneath a lightweight corrugated roof that spans the older agricultural buildings.
  • View through brick gateposts and black metal gates towards converted red-brick farm buildings arranged around a central landscaped area in Gloucestershire.
  • Construction company laying grey paving and forming rectangular lawn areas beside a long converted red-brick barn, with gravel access and construction equipment nearby.
  • Long, low red-brick agricultural barn viewed across a field before conversion, with small openings, a tiled roof and later farm sheds behind.

RRA Architects provided full architectural services for the agricultural barn conversion of a redundant Gloucestershire farmstead into seven striking individual homes for rental and holiday accommodation.

Masterplanning to maximise value

An initial feasibility study assessed the traditional farm buildings that were no longer suitable for modern agriculture, and established the whole farmstead could be converted to multiple units to provide a viable new use and maximise the site value.

A lightweight steel shed occupied the centre of the site, obscuring the historic barns and restricting access. The study proposed removing this structure to reveal the original C-shaped arrangement and create space for access, parking, landscaping and a shared central courtyard for the new development.

Seven Individual Dwelling Units

The main group of barns was divided into six homes, with the detached granary forming a seventh. The properties varied in size to appeal to different rental and holiday markets, while three single-storey homes incorporated accessible features.

The two-storey properties were designed as upside-down houses, placing open-plan living spaces on the first floor. This maximised views across the Gloucestershire countryside towards the Malverns and allowed the original trusses and vaulted ceilings to remain visible.

The granary became a substantial four bedroom home. A circular entrance hall and helical staircase lead to the vaulted first-floor living space, where generous glazing captures the surrounding views.

Curves, Character and Contemporary Detail

Curved walls, staircases, balconies and doorways were introduced to break up the long, linear plans and give each home a strong architectural identity. Bespoke curved doors and frames carried the concept through to the smallest details.

Original brickwork, timber trusses and threshing openings were retained wherever possible. Existing cattle-shed roof louvres were repaired and glazed, turning a practical agricultural feature into distinctive rooflights.

The completed development shows how thoughtful masterplanning and carefully judged contemporary design can unlock redundant farm buildings, create multiple homes and direct investment towards the areas that add the greatest value.

Project Highlights

  • Site-wide feasibility and masterplanning
  • Seven individual homes created from redundant farm buildings
  • Full architectural services from concept to completion
  • RIBA Stages 0 to 7
  • Upside-down layouts maximising views and retaining vaulted roof spaces
  • Curved walls, staircases, balconies and bespoke joinery
  • Historic agricultural materials and features retained
  • Contemporary interventions designed to maximise appeal and value

 

This project featured as Week 25 of our #40Projects40Weeks series. Read more on how the former cowsheds became seven contemporary homes.