Architecture Wednesday: The Old Barn

Once a farm building, The Old Barn is now a remarkable six-bedroom home that sits in an elevated plot with commanding views over the quiet village of Chelsworth, Suffolk. The design embraces its pastoral setting while establishing a contemporary style. Exposed materials are celebrated throughout, with an impressive triple-height timber structure, original brickwork, and plywood elements.

To preserve the architectural integrity of the building, the main barn was kept as a single volume, its original oak frame restored and integrated with new sections of French oak. Sheets of weatherboard plywood clad the interior, and the roof has been rebuilt with lightweight steel truss supports.

The main entry is to an impressive ante-room, where brick floor pavers and concrete walls set an authentic appeal set against a bank of yellow door fronts that open to reveal handy storage, utility facilities, and a small powder room.

A pair of symmetrically positioned stairs sweep up to the open-plan reception area in the main section where you find those dramatic full-height ceilings. Expansive windows reach upward from the former barn door to extend across portions of the roof flooding the room with light. Limestone floors with underfloor heating ground the space which is arranged centrally around a large dining area with a bespoke kitchen beyond.

Professional stainless-steel units are configured as a U-shaped island, with easy-to-maintain surfaces, raised plug sockets and seating space at the opposite end that is oriented toward low-level slit windows that frame panoramic views of the landscape. At the opposite end of the great space is the double-height living area with exposed original beams and slit windows to frame the views. The great room opens onto a generous terrace with an outdoor dining area and a barbecue.

A white-painted wall marks the boundary between the main section and the four-story extension that houses all six bedrooms. The principal suite is discreetly positioned on the lower ground floor with direct access to the garden. East-facing panels draw in the soft morning light. A set of curtains opens to an en suite with a round spa bathtub, built-in wardrobes, and a door to a separate water closet. 

One of the bedrooms on the ground floor also has an en suite bathroom, along with access to a small balcony. There are three more bedrooms on the first floor, and another en suite bedroom on the second floor. A pristine additional bathroom on the first floor has a bathtub, ideal for long soaks.

The house is immersed in well-maintained private grounds of around an acre, mainly laid to lawn and interspersed with established trees and planted sections. To the front, the private driveway has space for parking multiple cars.

The Old Barn can be yours for just £1.550M or $2.075M USD.

As always click to emBIGGERate …

The Modern House

Architecture Wednesday: Roman Villa

Located along the historic and legendary Via Appia Antica, about 3 miles from the Colosseum and a 15-minute drive from the heart of Rome, is a fabulous villa, once home to famed film producer Carlo Ponti and Sophia Loren.

Designed by renowned Roman architect Busiri Vici, the main villa covers 8600 square feet over two levels, with an elevator connecting the two floors and a panoramic rooftop terrace. There are five bedrooms each with a private bathroom, powder room, library, a winter garden and a room with a bathroom reserved for service personnel … cuz you know I’d be needing service personnel, AKA Maddie-speak for Houseboys.

The heart of the residence is a majestic 3500-square-foot hall, divided into three interconnecting rooms with large windows, three fireplaces and views of the garden. The entire area is decorated with statues and original marble artifacts—some of which are over 2,400 years old—giving the house a museum-like atmosphere of great charm and cultural depth.

The main house stands on a layer of solidified lava from the nearby volcano of Castel Gandolfo, in an area that was excavated by the ancient Romans to extract basalt used in the construction of the Appian Way. The excavation created a kind of natural amphitheater that elevates the villa nearly fifty feet above the surrounding landscape, offering a dominant position over the gardens.

In is within that garden where you’ll find a second structure: a 7500-square-foot Provencal-style building that was once a stable and has been transformed into an elegant and bright residence. The heart of the space is a large 3400-square-foot open loft with high ceilings, large windows, a professional kitchen and period furnishings selected from unique Italian and Northern European pieces, ideal for private receptions, events or family time.

The garden, which covers an impressive 150,000 square feet is a true masterpiece of landscaping, personally designed and maintained by the current owner, a landscape architect. Outdoor spaces include a swimming pool, mature trees, stone pathways, private relaxation areas, a garage, technical rooms, a gardeners’ annex, and the ultimate in privacy, while remaining strategically connected to the city’s major neighborhoods, international schools, cultural sites, and the capital’s best restaurants.

This is not simply a residence, but an iconic and unrepeatable property that encapsulates the soul of ancient Rome, the elegance of Italian design and the immortal spirit of international cinema. Rich in history and incomparable in its charm, it is a home for those seeking beauty, uniqueness and a legacy to pass on. Available by private appointment only and reserved for selected clients.

I don’t know the price because, well, if you have to ask …

The Spaces