Rough Hill Farm

A phased transformation of a historic Cotswold farmstead into a contemporary family home.

Situated on the edge of the Cotswold National Landscape, Rough Hill Farm is the long-term transformation of a traditional stone barn complex into a sustainable family home. Following the client’s acquisition of the property in 2008, Hayward Smart Architects developed a phased masterplan to unify a collection of historic agricultural buildings while preserving their rural character.

Redundant structures and unsympathetic additions were removed to re-establish the threshing barn, dairy barn and cottage as the focus of a renewed courtyard setting. A clear architectural approach balances the retention of historic fabric with contemporary interventions, including a two-storey timber-clad extension that links the barns. Distinct from the original stone buildings, the extension is connected by lightweight glazed links and maximises views of the surrounding landscape through extensive glazing and a first-floor balcony.

Within the threshing barn, original double-height spaces and large openings have been retained to create light-filled interiors, centred around a sculptural steel and oak staircase. A comprehensive landscape strategy unifies the scheme through interconnected courtyards, arrival spaces and gardens, complemented by a restrained palette of stone, timber, blue brick and anthracite-grey detailing.