Hurdle House

Contemporary Architecture for a Historic Barn

Hurdle House is the sensitive transformation of a Grade II listed former barn in the historic market town of Alresford, Hampshire. Once associated with the town's sheep fairs dating back to the late eighteenth century, the building carries a rich agricultural heritage that informed every aspect of the design.

Commissioned to create a contemporary extension for modern family living, Adam Knibb Architects developed a proposal that complements the character of the original barn without replicating it. The result is a confident contemporary intervention that allows the historic building to remain the focus while introducing light-filled spaces designed for the way the family lives today.

Connecting Old and New

Developed in close collaboration with Winchester City Council's Conservation Team, the design replaces an unsympathetic rear bay with a lightweight frameless glazed link that gently connects the historic barn to its contemporary extension.

Rather than competing with the original architecture, the glazed connection creates a clear distinction between old and new, allowing each to retain its own identity while working together as a single home.

This restrained approach celebrates the craftsmanship of the existing building while demonstrating how contemporary architecture can successfully enrich listed buildings.

Living in the Landscape

The extension has been designed to strengthen the relationship between the house and its gardens. A new entrance sequence draws visitors directly into the contemporary addition, where uninterrupted views extend through the house and out across the landscape beyond.

Large areas of glazing dissolve the boundary between inside and outside, filling the open-plan kitchen, dining and living spaces with natural light while creating a calm, sociable heart for family life.

The architecture is deliberately understated, allowing the changing seasons and surrounding landscape to become an integral part of the everyday experience of the home.

Materiality

Vertical timber cladding gives the extension a quiet architectural presence, its rhythm reflecting the surrounding woodland while providing a contemporary counterpoint to the traditional brick and timber construction of the listed barn.

Combined with expansive glazing and carefully restrained detailing, the material palette reinforces the distinction between historic and contemporary architecture without overwhelming the character of the original building.

Hurdle House demonstrates how thoughtful contemporary design can enhance historic buildings, creating new spaces that respect their heritage while confidently expressing the architecture of today.