Concrete Cow Barn - Case Study

The Concrete Cow Barn case study follows the exciting transformation of a 1950s concrete and asbestos barn into a modern home. A young family with previous experience of restoring an old cottage, stumbled upon the opportunity to take an unloved concrete shell and turn it in a contemporary living space. The owners decided to take a brutalist approach to the design of the property. The barn afforded the chance to create a large semi divided open living space with a high ceiling. The owners were keen to achieve upstairs-downstairs living, to make the most of the stunning countryside views, and make the exposed concrete beams the star of the show. They chose to fit black metal cladding to the entirety of the barn itself. It was also the perfect opportunity to incorporate DIY installable Lightwave Lighting, using the Link Plus and various stylist smart dimmer switches throughout their home automation adventure.

The owners chose to make a bold statement by creating a grand four glass panelled entrance screen. In the hallway, the owners installed a soft start Smart Dimmer (2 gang). The smart dimmer had the added benefits of allowing 2-way communication and built-in energy monitoring. These grand glazed screens were installed throughout the barn. The design was inspired by both agricultural structures, such as stabling, and mid-century industrial design. The screens worked to divide the barn into separate living spaces and provide structure while retaining an open plan feel.

It was decided that the best places to incorporate the convenience of Lightwave smart automation technology were the kitchen and bathroom. The owners chose to install a modern shaker kitchen in neutral shades. A lightwave Smart Dimmer (4 Gang) in a white metal finish sits proudly at the centre of the kitchen. A low hanging lighting strip was installed in the open plan kitchen to illuminate the area. In order to add a state of the art entertainment suite, Gallo’s A’ Diva SE speakers were wired into the concrete beams.

The bathroom was also created using the brutalist design that runs through the barn conversation. At the centre of the room are two beautifully caged LED lights on either side of the bathroom mirror, fixed onto artfully rendered Lime fresco walls, firmly in keeping with the overall aesthetic design of the renovation. A key feature was to incorporate glass, artfully lit by LEDs, nodding towards the barn’s agricultural roots.

Bespoke lighting elements were used to significant effect, even in the depths of snowy winter conditions outside the barn’s exterior. The owners weaved a mixture of modern LED lamps and fairy lights throughout the garden to create a rich tapestry of light. This also provided the perfect construct to the dark exterior of the barn.

So what does the future hold for the Concrete Cow Barn? The owners have plenty of ideas including slimline glazing, a courtyard constructed from concrete agricultural blocks and maybe even Shou Sugi Ban gates! The future of the Barn is bright indeed and highlights how smart automation can be incorporated seamlessly into any renovation. Nice!⠀

Concrete Cow Barn – Garden in Progress