Surrounded by rolling fields, wetlands and a riverbank, Wraxall Yard is situated in the heart of the West Country. Clementine Blakemore Architects were entrusted to convert and rebuild a collection of derelict barns for this not-for-profit organisation, run by father-daughter team, Nick and Katie Read. The philosophy behind this project – to create a multifunctional development with accessibility for all; with an educational farm, community space and a series of holiday cottages. As the collection of buildings sat within the West Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it was essential the buildings were sympathetically restored, retaining the agricultural aesthetic.
The Neo Rooflights played an instrumental role in creating cross ventilation in conjunction with the doors, ensuring the spaces were not only light and bright, but also well-ventilated for the comfort of its guests. Accessibility at the core of the project was the driving factor for requiring motorised opening rooflights with rain sensors, allowing visitors to have full control of room temperatures with ease.
Testimony to the design and quality of the project is the High Commendation received by Clementine Blakemore Architects in the 2023 MacEwen Awards and winning the 2023 AJ Retrofit Awards
'We wanted any interventions in the buildings to be clearly legible as new additions, whilst remaining sensitive to the historic and agricultural character of the site. We chose the Rooflight Company’s neo rooflights for their simple, contemporary appearance, high-quality black steel frame, and functionality. It was a pleasure to work with the technical team to successfully integrate the rooflights into the design, which include exposed spruce ply sheathing internally and ‘Double Roman’ clay tiles externally.'
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