DESCRIPTION

Church Farm is a Grade II listed farmhouse within a secluded historic group that includes associated barns and a grade I listed church, set in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The house has evolved over several centuries, originating as a substantial agricultural barn, later adapted and extended to form a dwelling. Twentieth-century alterations and extensions, including a conservatory and music room, have diluted the clarity of this evolution and introduced elements of limited architectural value.

The project proposed the careful removal of these later additions and their replacement with a compact contemporary extension and ancillary buildings.

The design responds to the form, scale and material hierarchy of the historic ensemble rather than copying it, reinterpreting traditional agricultural typologies through a restrained modern language. Flint, timber and lime-based materials are used to reinforce local character, while a glazed link ensures the new work remains legible as a later layer. Alongside architectural changes, inappropriate modern windows and doors are replaced with traditionally proportioned elements, restoring coherence to the listed building’s elevations. Landscape proposals, including a discreetly designed swimming pool, strengthen the relationship between house, garden and surrounding farmland.

“Indeed, on the whole I feel that the proposal responds extremely well to the design, scale, form, proportions, and detailing of the main building, and I agree with the applicant's heritage statement that it represents an improvement over the existing rather incoherent extensions and alterations.”