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On a beautiful lake in English countryside near Thorington in Suffolk is situated a very interesting house project “The Balancing Barn”.

The Barn’s design, architecture, and engineering could be easily characterized as a dramatic response to surrounding and colorful natural setting.

It’s built on a site where old dilapidated farm buildings once stood, memories of this have been retained by utilizing the footprints of the buildings to create planted areas, raised lawns, a fire pit with seating area, and terrace.

This thirty-meter-long house, half of which is suspended in space over the hillside and completely clad in reflective steel tiles, references the local typologies of metal clad farm buildings.

In this sense, the Balancing Barn aims to live up to its philosophical goal of re-evaluating the countryside and making modern architecture accessible. In addition to this, it is both a relaxing and exciting holiday home.

The Barn is 30 meters long, with a 15-meter cantilever over a slope, plunging the house headlong into nature. The reason for this spectacular setting is the linear experience of nature. As the site slopes, and the landscape with it, the visitor experiences nature first at ground level and ultimately at tree height. The linear structure provides the stage for a changing outdoor experience.

At its midpoint the Barn begins to cantilever over the descending slope, a balancing act made possible by the rigid structure of the building, resulting in 50% of the barn hanging freely in space. The structure balances on a central concrete core, with the section that sits on the ground constructed from heavier materials than the cantilevered section. The long sides of the structure are well concealed by trees, offering privacy in and around the Barn.

The Barn’s metal facade reflects its natural surroundings and the changing seasons.

On entering, one steps into a kitchen and a large dining room. A series of four double bedrooms follows, each with separate bathroom and toilet. In the very center of the barn, the bedroom sequence is interrupted by a hidden staircase providing access to the garden beneath. In the far, cantilevered end of the barn, there is a large living space with windows in three of its walls, floor, and ceiling.

Full height sliding windows and roof lights throughout the house ensure continuous views of, access to and connectivity with nature. The Barn is highly insulated, ventilated by a heat recovery system and heated by a ground source heat pump, resulting in a high energy efficient building.

CREDITS

Design Team: Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs and Nathalie de Vries with Frans de Witte and Gijs Rikken Partners:

Co-Architect: Mole Architects, Cambridge, UK

Landscape Architect: The Landscape Partnership, UK Interior Design: Studio Makkink & Bey, Rotterdam, Netherlands

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