Cultivate Sensitive Playful Architecture

A vibrant slide and a bright yellow ladder are just a couple of the playful interventions thoughtfully employed by Alter Architects in its innovative modernisation of a picturesque farm located in Surrey, England. This ambitious project involved the careful renovation of a series of outbuildings that sit alongside the remarkable 400-year-old Grade II-listed Stanyards Cottage. The cluster of structures, which previously served as stables for the farm, beautifully encloses a charming courtyard to the south of the historic half-timbered cottage, and is naturally surrounded by lush scrub and tranquil woodlands. Throughout the development, the project sought to thoughtfully retain the existing scales and relationships between the various buildings, while simultaneously updating their functions and seamlessly incorporating them into a unified architectural scheme that honors the site’s rich heritage.

Removed Restored Reinserted Reconfigured

"As well as intermingling old and new, we were keen to cultivate a sensitive and playful approach to making a contemporary home for our clients and their young family."

The modernisation process involved preserving some of the buildings' original features, which were removed and restored before being reinserted into the reconfigured interiors. By incorporating the farm buildings into the house, the architects sought to create a series of interconnected spaces with a dynamic relationship between indoors and outdoors.

Strong Modern Interventions

Becoming Time Traveler

The resulting configuration of rooms creates a sense of continuity between older and newer spaces with varying proportions, while several "sculptural landmarks" are used to enliven the journey through the building. One of the key interventions is an angular glass volume that bridges the space between the main house and the outbuildings, while retaining the visual connection between the yards on either side.

"This reflective and transparent tunnel purposely stands out as a new piece of connective architecture, by its very nature, it implies a type of 'time travel' – from a rural historical past, to a new modern playful present and future."

The glazed structure intersects with the wall of a traditional building featuring a gable end that was in-filled with glass to provide a view of the garden and allow daylight to flood into an open living area. The living space contains a curving steel staircase set on a base made from oriented strand board.

Juxtaposed Connected Spaces

Bridge Between Light & Play

The elegantly crafted stairs ascend gracefully to a bridge nestled beneath the beautifully pitched ceiling, effectively connecting a cozy small study at one end with the spacious master bedroom located at the other. The thoughtfully designed ground-floor area unfolds as an open, inviting double-height entertainment space, showcasing some of the carefully restored original features, which include vibrantly painted ironwork that adds a splash of character and charm. At the far end of this striking living space, a corridor, lined with weathered timber that evokes a sense of history and warmth, guides one toward the children's bedroom and shared bathroom. One side of the corridor is adorned with large windows and doors that create a vertical rhythm, perfectly framing the picturesque view of the courtyard outside while allowing ample natural light to flood and illuminate the interior. A cheerful yellow circular ladder extends from the corridor into a delightful play area, where a cleverly designed net fitted along its edge functions as a playful alternative to a traditional balustrade, providing a stunning view down into the corridor below.