Episode Information Devon: The Barn

Date Published:

11/06/2008

Sue and Martin took a holistic approach when they converted a pair of Devon barns into a family home. They believed that the house should look like a natural part of the landscape. So they built it using environmentally sustainable techniques and allowed much of its design to evolve during the build.

The oldest barn, dating from the 1600s, was built from stone and cob - a straw-and-mud mixture characteristic of Devon - while the newer, 19th century barn was totally of stone. The older barn would have a thatched roof, the newer barn slates. A south-facing sitting room would overlook a double-height glass atrium, which would become an indoor garden, filled with citrus trees. Four bedrooms and a study would go upstairs.

They began building in April and hoped to move in by Christmas. It was very much a team effort. John Watson, a local builder experienced in barn conversions, headed the construction work; architect Adrian Slocombe adapted the plans as they progressed; and his wife Sam used meditation and painted visuals to help Sue develop interior design ideas.

Sue and Martin wanted to use as many of the original materials as possible, as well as newer environmentally friendly ones. However, green building can be expensive. When they had to underpin the walls, they could find no affordable alternative to poured concrete. However, they managed to rebuild the walls with the original stonework, using lime mortar instead of cement, and made their own cob out of earth, straw and water. They had reed beds dug in the garden to treat sewage and purify water.

The main structure of the new house was timber. A frame of green oak was fixed inside the walls to support the roofs and provide a cavity for insulation. It also created a sturdy character for the interior, where oak uprights divided the floor space.

Water Troubles

Rain played havoc with the schedule - among other things, the damp prevented the lime mortar from drying. Two months after Sue and Martin had hoped to move in, the building was finally water-tight and they were able to lay floors, build staircases and do the electrics and plumbing.

Several months later, they are still living in a caravan in the garden and are more than £50,000 over budget. However, they remain relaxed: they are achieving their original vision of a home that has grown out of the earth. Everything has its season, and there will be a time to decorate.