Architects:Studio Bark

Area:350m²

Year:2024

Photographs:Jim Stephenson

Manufacturers:The Light Lab

Structural Engineer:Structure Workshop

Main Contractor:M Chisnalls

Planning Consultants:Rural Solutions

Ecology:Torc Ecology

Landscape Desgin:Terra Firma

Highways:Create Consulting

Arboricultural:Greenlight

Design Studio:Studio Bark

Project Architects:Steph Chadwick, Wilf Meynell

Client:Private Domestic

Country:United Kingdom

Text description provided by the architects. Studio Bark has completed ‘Water Farm’, an off-grid home in Suffolk with a bold geometric timber design, inspired by local timber frame buildings. Water Farm was designed to nurture the needs of a young family of five, moving away from the city, with strong ties to the site and a desire for off-grid living. The result is an exciting, yet hyper-functional five-bedroom off-grid home. The geometric timber-clad roof is the home’s defining feature. Born out of an early study into local timber frame buildings, it soon became its own entity, a powerful man-made form that strikingly contrasts its natural surroundings. The clients approached Studio Bark with a dream for a ‘home for life’ on the family farm - rooted in decades of family history. At that time they were living in Essex with their three children and seeking the quality of life that rural Suffolk could offer, whilst still being a reasonable train journey to London. Located on the edge of Dedham Vale AONB, this Suffolk site features mature woodland and pasture, with a westward slope and a central crest. The landscape is characterized by trees, hedgerows, and two distinctive field oaks, offering picturesque views and glimpses of the Stour Valley through clearings. Designed to be both seen and enjoyed, the proposal takes advantage of the nearby public right of way, allowing the passersby to appreciate it as an architectural statement that enhances the scenic quality of the area.