DesignXY Ltd director, Kris Barry, provides services as architect for the extensive redevelopment of a substantial barn / out-building into a new two bedroom home, in Hillsborough, Sheffield.

Commissioned by a local family to design new accommodation for a family member, with an increasingly complex level of dependence.

With an existing building on a plot of land adjacent to their own home, the client asked DXY director, Kris, to develop a scheme for the extensive redesign of the building known as ‘the Barn’. It was established at an early stage in the project that the existing floor / ceiling heights wouldn’t accommodate the extensive use of lifting aids that would be required, so it was agreed that the main stone façade would be retained, but the rest of the property would be demolished and replaced with a steel framed structure, which could be rapidly assembled.

Seeking to progress the design work to construction as rapidly as possible, it became clear that success in the project would be dependent on the support and swift actions of all involved.

It was agreed with the client to request pre-application planning advice, from the Local Authority Planning and Development Control. The pre-app advice took more than seventeen weeks to elicit an informal response, during which time our client’s condition had sadly deteriorated swiftly; it was agreed that project should be brought to a halt.

Located on the approach to Malin Bridge Primary School, the project had been seen by the client’s family (as well as the architect), as an opportunity to challenge the perceptions of what we think of as home, in the minds of the school children that would walk by on a daily basis. Although not undertaken as DesignXY, and despite the scheme never progressing beyond the technical design stage (RIBA Work Stage 4), this project and others like it are the reason why DesignXY accepts small commissions, knowing that there are opportunities to bring hope, dignity and comfort to people, through sensitive and considerate architecture.

Project Facts :

Work undertaken by Kris, as Director at his previous practice, SIX Architecture + Design Ltd.