The Box in the Barn
“The Box in the Barn” is a small contemporary living unit freely inserted into an old barn. The project was conceived as a seasonal retreat for the client within a rural homestead used by his family. The brief was initially open-ended: the first ideas considered the renovation of the residential part of the farmstead, but over time the design evolved into a new independent dwelling placed inside the barn.
A fundamental principle of the design was respect for the existing structure and the preservation of its authentic character. The new object therefore works as a clearly legible contemporary insertion that remains structurally independent from the original barn. A simple timber volume wrapped in a black asphalt façade was designed, its form deriving from the geometry of the barn while simultaneously creating a tension between old and new.
An important motif became the visual axis running through the threshing floor of the open barn towards the garden with old apple trees and further into the landscape. This axis is reflected in both the layout and the position of the large panoramic window and dining table.
The inserted structure is slightly elevated above the original barn floor, which continues freely underneath it. In front of the object, a concrete surface extending seamlessly from the courtyard creates a transition between the exterior, the open barn space, and the interior itself.
The interior is designed in a restrained manner, with minimal formal gestures and an emphasis on natural materiality. Birch plywood predominates, complemented by black-dyed MDF boards used for the built-in block containing the kitchen, bathroom, and storage spaces.
Structurally, the project is a lightweight timber-frame construction made of KVH beams with a vapour-open assembly. Although primarily intended for seasonal use, the insulation and underfloor heating also allow for year-round habitation. The barn itself additionally functions as a natural climatic buffer, protecting the inserted volume from overheating and adverse weather conditions.
The project represents an adaptation of an existing structure rather than a new building, which is considered an essential aspect of its sustainability.
