Carpenter Oak had already completed an oak frame at the farm – a two-bay garage with accommodation above on the second floor.
As well as several visits to the Devon yard and Show Barn – which was a source of inspiration for the design – the clients asked Roderick James Architects to help with the design and planning stages.
The design had to work with the sharply sloping site that would involve significant earth moving, cutting and filling. The resulting plans were for a two storey, split level building with front door access on the top floor.
Carpenter Oak designed and made the structural frame as well as the two-sided balcony that wraps around the building to make the most of the views.
Although a very local project, logistics had to be overcome during the frame raising, with access to the slab up a steep and winding drive. Smaller lorries and a crane all managed to deliver and erect the frame, with our carpenters on site for a week.
An unlikely weather window saved the clients from having to erect a scaffolding roof over the frame while the builders – Alec Hoare & Son – made the wall and roof cassettes.
The glazing is an interesting feature, using curtain joinery that wraps around two sides. The result is a continuous run that sits off the oak frame, giving a cleaner look internally and externally and allowing for bifold windows at the gable end. Whilst giving a less ‘busy’ aesthetic, it also shows off the oak frame, with all four sides of the posts visible.
Gitcombe Retreat has three bedrooms and bathrooms downstairs and one of each upstairs. The kitchen, dining and living area are framed by the three-bay barn room with two sling brace trusses. The central wood burner is made possible by bespoke steel work on the ridge beam that the flue rises up though.
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