GRAS was commissioned by a private client to prepare a full planning application for the conversion of two redundant barns at Gwendreath Farm, located in the rural, wooded landscape of Cornwall’s Lizard Peninsula, into a single residential dwelling. The barns sit within a mature setting, surrounded by dense shrubs and established trees on three sides, with a woodland valley extending northward down to Kennack Sands.

The two barns are distinct in character. The South Barn is a compact, two-storey structure constructed entirely of natural stone, while the larger North Barn is a single-storey, L-shaped building combining traditional stone and concrete blockwork. The design approach centres on a sensitive renovation that respects and enhances the existing setting, delivering the improvements required to transform the buildings into a contemporary family home that fulfils the client’s brief.

Careful attention is given to repairing and retaining original stonework, while new materials are selected for their natural qualities and agricultural aesthetic. This considered palette preserves the visual character of the barns and ensures the completed home sits harmoniously within its rural context.