The Old Sty | London Atelier

The Old Sty represents the first completed phase of a long-term masterplan for a Grade II listed estate in Somerset. Once a modest piggery and later a small garage, the stone outbuilding has been carefully transformed into a contemporary holiday home that honours its rural origins while offering a warm and materially refined interior. Though the footprint is compact, the architectural ambition is clear: to work with the depth and character of the existing structure while introducing a new layer of London Atelier architecture — calm, precise and rooted in place.

Externally, the approach is deliberately restrained. The rubble-stone walls, simple gabled roof and deep-set openings were repaired and consolidated with minimal intervention, maintaining the agricultural character of the building. New oak-framed doors and discreet frameless windows are inserted with clarity and precision, forming a contemporary layer that remains distinct yet respectful. These interventions stabilise the historic envelope, improve its thermal performance, and re-establish the outbuilding as a functional element within the wider estate.

Inside, the spatial strategy centres on a sculptural plywood volume that forms the kitchen, bathroom, ladder-stair, storage and a small mezzanine platform. This “house-in-house” approach preserves the perimeter stone walls in their entirety while giving the new interior its own architectural identity. The plywood insert sits lightly within the space, allowing the building to be read as two distinct layers: the rugged historic shell and the crafted, contemporary core. This separation also improves thermal and acoustic performance without compromising the character of the original structure.

A series of built-in plywood elements — seating, shelving, a loft reading nook — provide spatial richness and functionality within the modest plan. Polished concrete flooring runs through the home, giving material continuity and introducing a warm pink tone drawn from the local red earth. This soft hue anchors the interior and contrasts gently with the tactile timber surfaces and rough perimeter walls.

Daylight is a defining element. Rooflights, deep window reveals, and a projecting feature window draw light deep into the plan, mediating between the two ‘skins’ of the building. Light moves across the exposed stone and plywood surfaces throughout the day, revealing the texture of the original construction and highlighting the crafted simplicity of the new insert. These controlled openings also frame views toward the wider estate, reinforcing the building’s connection to its landscape.

Bedrooms and ancillary spaces continue this theme of crafted restraint. The sleeping platform above the plywood volume is accessed via a finely detailed timber ladder, conceived as both functional element and joinery piece. The main bedroom sits within the restored stone shell, its deep reveal forming a quiet alcove for sitting and reflection.

The bathroom, fully contained within the plywood core, is compact yet calm. Minimal junctions, warm timber surfaces and the seamless continuation of the concrete floor create a space that feels intimate rather than confined. Here, the interplay between new materials and the surrounding stone fabric expresses the layered identity of the building at its smallest scale.

The Old Sty achieves a careful balance: it preserves the agricultural character of the outbuilding while offering the clarity, comfort and refined materiality of contemporary architecture. It demonstrates how modest structures can be renewed with restraint and imagination — and how thoughtful design can bring new life to the heritage fabric of rural estates.

Photography: Ralf Eikelberg