There was nothing particularly eye-catching or historic about Nicholas and Sue Peacock’s chicken shed near Trellech in Monmouthshire, which made the challenge of converting it into a four-bedroom holiday home even more enjoyable, reveals architect Martin Hall.
‘It was a wreck with a corrugated roof, dirt floor and rotten timber walls,’ he explains. ‘We’ve worked with plenty of rural buildings, but this was a bit more of a basket case than usual.’
The planners weren’t convinced, either: the application was approved by just one vote. ‘They were worried about the impact on the landscape, but, now, everyone can see that it’s unharmed,’ he continues.
Mr Hall was determined that the design should be playful and prove that you can make a small space feel generous and well-appointed. ‘I approached it as you might a luxury yacht,’ he says. ‘Everything is high-end, yet compact.’
The architect steered away from distressed materials, which could feel nostalgic and themed, and opted instead for raw materials: cedar, iron, concrete and walls of glass. The effect is clean, light and modern, but reflects the agricultural roots of the shed.
As it was to be a holiday let (which one can book at www.thechickenshedatparkhouse.com), the Peacocks opted for a pared-back interior, with a focus on local materials and craftsmanship. ‘When you’re on holiday, you don’t want the clutter of everyday life around you,’ believes Mrs Peacock.
Much of the furniture, including the beds, was designed by Barnby Design of nearby Hay-on-Wye . There are also handmade Welsh blankets and some colourful Scandinavian pieces. ‘The walls are clad in cedar and the floors are polished concrete, but there’s no mistaking the building for anything other than a radically repurposed shed,’ Mrs Peacock assures me.
The Peacock's conversion is one of the latest in a series of wonderful outbuilding conversions, where we've seen everything from a dovecote to a sheep shed transformed into quirky living spaces.
Credit: Knight Frank
One of our most ancient country houses, tragically gutted by fire, is in need of saving and fast
One of the oldest, largest and most beautiful country houses in England has come up for sale – and while
Credit: Simon Brown
The dovecote which became a delightful country home
A long career at Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler was the perfect preparation for Emma Burns’s greatest design challenge yet:
Credit: HRH The Prince of Wales, photographed by John Paul for the Country Life Picture Library
HRH The Prince of Wales: ‘We may be the last generation fortunate enough to experience the wonderful people, skills and activities of our countryside’
HRH The Prince of Wales has guest edited the November 14 edition of Country Life. In his leader article, he
-
What's a 'wellness village' and will it tempt you back into the office?The team behind London's first mixed-use ‘wellness village’ says it has the magic formula for tempting workers back into offices.
-
'To exist in this world relies on the hands of others': Roger Powell and modern British bookbindingAn exhibition on the legendary bookbinder Roger Powell reveals not only his great skill, but serves to reconnect us with the joy, power and importance of real craftsmanship.
