Stolon Studio has completed a deep retrofit project in rural Herefordshire, sympathetically transforming a collection of 15th and 16th century agricultural buildings into sustainable housing for a new rural community.
Stolon Studio has skilfully transformed a group of neglected agricultural buildings in Herefordshire into eight sustainable homes for a new rural community. Originally a dairy farm, the assembly of 15th and 16th century timber-framed buildings had fallen into disrepair and collapse through long-term neglect. The Parks develops the architect’s ‘sociable housing’ concept, providing an alternative rural typology to the isolated single home, offsetting rural loneliness, and helping to nurture new communities. Built for a small-scale ethical developer, the scheme combines old and new to create individual homes with shared, communal spaces, including barns, gardens, a wildlife area and meadow.
Designed to balance privacy, openness, and community, each dwelling has a private garden, with traditional lawns, terraces and shed topped with a biodiverse green roof. Not only are the new homes sustainable and characterful, but residents also have a share in the communally owned Meadow and shared equipment (Library of Things). This piece of land is there for their pleasure and enjoyment, as well as agency over the community land asset.
The dwellings are arranged around a central courtyard – formerly the farmyard – and range in size from three-to-five-bedrooms. A range of spatial layouts accommodate different housing needs from families to downsizers and the elderly. Each home retains the name of its original agricultural use, such as the Farmhouse, The Grain Mill, The Winnows, giving character and individuality within the ensemble.
Sensitive to context and heritage, as well as sustainability and waste, the architect has repaired and celebrated historic features wherever possible. Fireplaces have been exposed and restored, existing elm and oak beams have been braced with special steel ties, and brick and stone walls have been exposed where practical. Elsewhere, walls and beams have been straightened and reset rather than rebuilt.
The materials palette reflects the context and traditions of the Herefordshire countryside, with a combination of red brick, tile, and terracotta echoing the reddish pink gravel of the river valley and the rich red clay soil of the local area. Robust metal roofing references the agricultural heritage of the buildings. Interiors are finished in soft, untreated earthy tones and breathable clay paints. New and reused oak elements are unified with a light clay-based stain which helps to preserve the wood.
New electrics and plumbing are combined with air source heat pumps and underfloor heating to create high-performance houses with low operational costs and carbon emissions. The construction process was viewed as an opportunity to contribute to the rural economy, using local materials, traditional techniques and employing local workman, craftsman and small family-run specialist businesses, explains the architect.
Although some of the newer existing buildings were demolished to create the courtyard and shared spaces, the practice worked with a highly skilled site team to salvage historical timber, stone and bricks, as well as old farm equipment, using an area of the site as its own architectural salvage yard. Demolition waste materials were crushed to form aggregate for use on site rather than bringing in new materials. An original millstone set in the landscape serves as a touchpoint for the development’s origins.
The development also addresses land contamination caused by long-term neglect of the property. Inspired by delicate hedgerows, the landscape design incorporates native species, such as cow parsley and soft white flowers, which contrast with the reddish buildings. A wildflower meadow, bat habitats, new tree planting, and a pond, further enhance biodiversity.
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