Best Contemporary Barn Conversion 2019

We are pleased to have won the BUILD – Best Contemporary Barn Conversions 2019!

Below is a description of the listing that got us the award. To see the finished photos of this project, please click here to go to our portfolio page.

Carrying out a barn conversion in London or Essex is much more challenging than finding a suitable new house for sale on an established development, but a contemporary barn conversion offers a gamut of possibilities that you would struggle to find anywhere else, even with new builds.

A barn conversion offers a practical bridge between the attraction of the old and the functionality of the new.  You will benefit from owning a property that is full of character and local history; situated in scenic countryside and, upon renovation, will provide the comfort and practicalities of contemporary living found in a new build property.  You can find examples of this type of property development in the surrounding areas of the popular villages in Essex, near Epping, Ongar, Brentwood Braintree and Chelmsford where M P Architects have successfully converted many.

There was one barn in particular, as it was a listed building, in 2010 we were commissioned to convert it into a dwelling. The barn dates from around 1800 and is the grounds of a listed building Blewgates Farm, so as well as planning, it required listed building consent.

In order to apply for planning and listed building consent, we had to apply for a structural report from a structural engineer; a historical report from an archaeological building recording specialist; contaminated land reports and soil testing; a bat and owl survey, as well as a land drainage consent. 

We are pleased to say that after 9 years the works are finally being completed and they have been carried out to a high standard. The resulting barn provides for a large living room with a wood-burning stove on one end; a separate sitting room and study at the other end and a large open-plan kitchen opening on the double-height hall with stairs up to the first floor which contains three bedrooms with three bathrooms.

The feature of this house is the tiled wall beside the oak staircase with glazed balustrading set within the central double-height space. The principal members of the original oak frame are also exposed internally making the modern living spaces sing with historical memory.

Externally the original timber frame has been cladded with horizontal feather-edged weatherboarding set above a newly build brick plinth.

M P Architects LLP carry out many barn conversions in Essex and North London. We are very pleased to have won the 2019 year ‘Best for Contemporary Barn Conversions – Essex award from BUILD.  We look forward to working on more exciting projects next year.