Farm House

Brief

Develop proposals for a new-build farmhouse, to be constructed next to the new steadings. Careful consideration of the everyday activties of the farmer.

Main Outcomes

Detailed proposals taken to building warrant stage. Farmer's entrance and facilities sectioned off at rear, allowing for the rest of the house to be kept clean, and a better separation of work and family life. 

When the Lochhead family decided to build a new steading for their farm in Dumfriesshire, it made sense to build a new farmhouse with it. Starting with a blank slate, an opportunity existed to create something that would better address the needs of living on the farm grounds, whilst wanting to maintain a clean home and a healthy work-life balance. 

The proposals, developed by Vellow Wood, involved a two storey house that mixes a traditional form with contemporary features. The back section of the house is sectioned off from the rest, allowing the farmer to get undressed, hang their clothes to dry, and even get showered before entering the rest of the home. This facility keeps the rest of the home clean and smelling as a welcoming home should. But it also provides a psychological divide between daytime work and evening family time. 

Some of the features you wouldn't typically find in a traditional farmhouse include a balcony that protrudes out from the master bedroom, and provides stunning views across to the Solway Firth, and an open plan kitchen-diner with a sliding partition to the living room. The proposal also included a secondary living room for more formal gatherings. 

The proposals that were taken to approved building warrant stage included a timber frame construction, with high air tightness and a high degree of insulation. If the building goes ahead, it will feature Cedar Wood cladding on the upper level and a rendered finish on the lower. A kick out feature was designed into the Cedar cladding in order to prevent water from dripping onto the render and creating stains.