Planning permission was granted for the Homestead Farm, Hougham, Dover.
The clients’ main intention was to develop their farming business to sell their organic, pasture-fed beef direct to the public, via the Internet. For this, they needed a new building designed to meet food hygiene regulations where they could repackage the meat that comes already butchered and vacuum packed from the abattoir. A small office area was also required in order to manage the farm business.
The simple, elongated shape reinterprets elements of the traditional barn in a contemporary architectural language. As a result, the opaque-to-glazed area and the materials used are kept, but adjusted and adapted to the clients’ needs and modern usage.
The modest contemporary structure uses natural and sustainable materials. Premium grade western red cedar is used for the cladding which naturally weathers to an attractive silvery shade. The windows are Scandinavian laminated pine, painted a subtle earthy grey tone, matching the corrugated metal roof. Thus, the exterior finishes are in keeping with the modern architectural language, but at the same time are mindful of the surroundings.
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