One of the sad ironies of many barn conversions is that while they might save the fabric, the true inner beauty of these buildings very often ends up hidden behind mezzanines and plasterboard. In the transition from agricultural to residential, the interior spatial qualities and materiality of the barn too often ends up being sacrificed to the desire for subdivision and perceived need to meet conventional expectations of domesticity.

It’s heartening therefore to find that Lynch Architects’ recent Jankes Barn project, respects the integrity of the 18th century structure at its core, while approaching its transformation into a dwelling with a robust clarity. “We like to call it a ‘barn non-conversion’”, says Patrick Lynch, practice director. “The idea was that the best way to inhabit the barn would be to make it feel as little like a conventional house as possible.”

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