Knappings Barn, Cheltenham was shortlisted for the RIBA South West Building Awards in 2014 in two categories, namely Conservation and Small Projects. The project was one of 16 selected from a long list of 47 entries. Whilst ECA is a modest sized practice we were able to compete against some internationally recognised practices.
Knappings Barn is a grade II listed 16th century barn. The family needed two additional bedrooms and living space and had previously gained permission for some small lean-to extensions. They came to ECA because these still didn’t provide the amount of space needed or the ‘wow’ factor they were after. ECA’s integrated planning and architecture team devised a scheme which doubled the floorspace, in a single rear addition. By lifting the contemporary additions away from the listed barn, it enhanced the setting of the listed building and had the full support of conservation officers and neighbours.
‘Our home has been transformed into a light and airy building which is efficient to live in. ECA paid real attention to detail, using traditional materials in a contemporary way’. Auriol Heuff
The Planning Issues
We gained planning permission for a unique extension to a grade II listed 16th century barn in 2015.
We successfully justified an alteration to a listed building. We worked carefully with the architectural team to ensure the extension was sensitive to the heritage asset. We demonstrated how the high level of design we had devised adds interest, value and and functionality to the heritage building; making a positive contribution to the local character and distinctiveness of the historic environment.
We further demonstrated our considerations of land use, amenity and design.
