Grove Farm House

Grove Farm is a secluded farmhouse surrounded by a collection of outbuildings, set within its own wooded landscape and vast wheatfields. The site is remote from the local village, accessed only by a gated farm track over a kilometre long.

The clients specifically appointed the team to incorporate the exceptional architectural principles seen in several Paragraph 79 (now Paragraph 80) projects. This set the challenge of creating a truly distinctive design.

The house was designed with a dramatic, curvilinear form, both in plan and in section, composed of multiple interwoven components. Key design elements included:

• Blackened timber cladding, allowing the building to blend seamlessly into its rural surroundings.

• A form that reflects the local vernacular, where many traditional rural buildings also feature blackened timber exteriors.

The project faced an unexpected halt when the global pandemic and lockdowns effectively shut down the Planning Approval process, stalling development.

To bypass the non-functioning planning process, a decision was made to proceed under Permitted Development rights, constructing a maximum-sized extension to the rear of the existing, much-modified farmhouse.

• Foundations are in place, and work is set to continue in 2024.

• The project remains on track, adapting to challenges while preserving its original architectural intent.