The Oak Barn

Following extensive fire damage, only the primary oak frame of the barn remained. Rather than replicate what was lost, the design reinterprets the building through careful repair, reinstatement and considered new intervention.

Close collaboration with conservation officers informed every stage, keeping new elements subordinate to the historic fabric while allowing the barn to function as a contemporary rural home.

At the core of the scheme is a hand-crafted green oak frame, reinstating the structural logic and material expression of the original barn. Traditional joinery maintains continuity with its agricultural heritage.

Behind it, a highly insulated, airtight envelope is discreetly integrated, with air-source heating and concealed services embedded in the fabric – improving comfort and efficiency without compromising the readability of the historic frame.

New glazing is introduced selectively, positioned within the rhythm of the oak frame to capture long views across the Oxfordshire landscape while respecting the dominance of the original structure.

Interventions are deliberately restrained. The barn’s geometry remains the primary architectural expression, so old and new sit in clear but quiet dialogue rather than visual competition.

Locally sourced green oak reduces embodied carbon, while improved insulation, airtight construction and efficient heating significantly reduce operational demand. Rather than hiding this duality, the building expresses it – a historic structure adapted for modern environmental performance.