Leibal — Hunts Green Barn

Hunts Green Barn is a minimalist home located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, designed by McLaren Excell. Originally a Tithe barn, the structure had been obscured by modern room and storey modifications. The team successfully returned it to its authentic state, while also adapting it for contemporary living. This included a significant expansion from 187 SQM to 290 SQM, marked by the addition of a two-storey bedroom wing, linked to the original barns via a glazed corridor. Notable features of this new section include 3.5m tall sliding glazed doors and a black steel-clad kitchen and mezzanine. A key focus for McLaren.Excell and the client was the project’s environmental footprint and functionality. The original barn, being a listed building, had limitations regarding renewable energy and sustainable materials. However, the addition of the kitchen block allowed the integration of eco-friendly options like low-embodied carbon materials such as flint gabions, lime render, and Larch boards for cladding.

A ground source heat pump was installed under an uphill meadow to complement the improved insulation of the barns. The design seamlessly blends industrial elements with the surrounding natural landscape. Black steel finishes and concrete floors create a bridge between eras, while extensive timber use in cladding and window frames reflects the neighboring meadows. Oak is prominently used in the interior of the new extension for a calming effect, fostering a private yet functional living space that complements the open nature of the barn. The new additions, including the larger 17th-century barn and the accommodation wing, are designed to be unobtrusive and harmonious with the rustic environment. The new wing, in particular, is integrated into the landscape and clad in Larch to blend with the pastoral setting of barns, meadows, and wildflowers.