Beautiful prefab box is a modern light-filled extension to a historic barn

When the owners of the grade II-listed Hurdle House sought to expand the footprint of their historic English barn, they asked Adam Knibb Architects to design a modern addition that would respect the existing building’s traditional style.

The Winchester-based firm responded with a beautiful and boxy structure that was prefabricated off-site and installed in just five days in Hampshire County. Filled with natural light, the low-lying building is clad in vertical timber boards to mimic the surrounding trees and to create a modern contrast with the gabled brick barn.Constructed from cross-laminated timber, the modern extension is punctuated by large windows that let in natural light and frame views of the garden. A bay window on the existing barn was removed and replaced with a short, all-glazed link that connects the historic building with the modern extension and minimizes visual disruption. “We approached the scheme with the aim to set the works into the surrounding nature, provide natural light, harness the fantastic views and provide a social heart to the house and for the family,” write the architects.

The extension comprises a large open-plan kitchen, dining area, and living room that opens up to the garden through large glazed sliding doors. A partition separates the open-plan space from the study, bathroom, and utility area. The light-filled extension is minimally and tastefully furnished and aimed “to increase the excitement when entering the property.”