🇬🇧 The Old Sty: Transforming a Piggery into a Contemporary Holiday Home in Somerset

The The Old Sty project represents the first completed phase of a long-term masterplan for a Grade II listed estate in Somerset, UK. This transformation is a successful example of Historic Building Rehabilitation that respects its rural origins. The home stands in Tatworth, Southwest England. London Atelier completed it on December 7, 2025. The building was originally a modest piggery, later becoming a small garage. They carefully rehabilitated it into a contemporary holiday home.

Rooted Architecture: Respecting Origin and Injecting Clarity

The exterior approach demonstrates a clear commitment to architectural discipline. The design maintained the agricultural character of the old structure. Engineers repaired and consolidated the rough rubble stone walls and the simple gabled roof. They achieved this with minimal intervention to the deep-set window openings. They inserted new Oak framed doors and frameless windows with high precision. These additions form a clear contemporary layer that respects the original. These interventions stabilize the historic envelope and significantly improve its thermal performance, aligning with concepts of Sustainability.

A New Core: The House in House Strategy

The essence of the interior design strategy revolves around introducing a sculptural wooden volume made of Plywood. This volume represents a crucial turning point in the design. This house in house functions as an integrated service unit. It houses the kitchen, bathroom, stair, storage, and a small mezzanine platform. This approach aims to keep the surrounding stone walls entirely intact. It also grants the interior its new architectural identity. The plywood insert sits lightly within the space. This allows readers to perceive the structure as two distinct layers: the rugged old historic shell and the precisely crafted modern core.

The Language of Materials: Pink Concrete and the Warmth of Wood

The carefully selected materials define the home’s identity. These materials create a palpable contrast between the old and the new, highlighting the success of Historic Building Rehabilitation. Polished Concrete tile extends throughout the home. This flooring provides material continuity and introduces a warm pink color. This hue draws inspiration from the local red earth. Integrated plywood elements (such as benches and shelves) enhance the function of the limited floor plan. Natural light plays a major role. Rooflights and deep window openings draw light towards the plan’s depth. The light interacts with the exposed stone and plywood surfaces. This interaction reveals the texture of the original construction and highlights the simplicity of the new intervention.

Precedent for Evolution: Lessons Learned for the Masterplan

The Old Sty is not merely a holiday home. It presents a successful model for the Adaptive Reuse of Historic Piggery structures. The project proves that architects can renew modest structures with restraint and imagination. It successfully balances preserving the agricultural character with providing modern architectural comfort. London Atelier utilizes the principles learned here integrated service cores, improved lighting, and honest material upgrades to guide subsequent phases. They are currently planning work on five other structures. This work expands the gradual and respectful approach to heritage conservation across the wider estate, serving the regional Urban Planning.

✦ Editorial Insight from ArchUp

The Old Sty project is a classic case study for transforming historically listed, neglected agricultural structures. They used precise interventions to convert them into modern uses, realizing Historic Building Rehabilitation. The architectural clarity lies in the explicit separation between the rough stone shell and the internal sculptural Plywood core. This strategy achieves thermal performance without compromising the original fabric. London Atelier’s design demonstrates commendable contextual awareness. The true success converts size constraints into a design strength, setting a positive precedent. This controlled balance suggests that proper heritage estate management requires transparency to ensure functional sustainability that will last for the coming decade.