Whitberry: A Profile of the Notable Individual, With Key Points Highlighted
News Article: Pend Architects' Contemporary Extension Transforms Whitberry Farmhouse in East Lothian
Pend Architects have completed a remarkable renovation of Whitberry, a Grade B listed Georgian farmhouse in East Lothian. The project, which serves as a harmonious blend of heritage and modernity, has transformed the farmhouse's rear elevation, addressing the disjointed facade and cellular internal layout caused by multiple additive extensions.
The consolidation of the fragmented rear elevation is the project's central focus. The new extension, featuring a fluted, blush-toned stone wall, fabricated in precast concrete, unifies the historic facade's patchwork of reddish sandstone and brick additions. This intervention creates coherence and stability, reorienting the house's plan towards its garden and improving flow to the exterior.
A key design element is the full-height glazing and timber sliding doors that transition from the stone wall into the extension. These features visually connect interior spaces with the garden and maximize natural light, while a vaulted skylight has been added to bring daylight deep into the kitchen space. The skylight's enlarged opening allows it to spill into the adjacent dining room, further enhancing the connection between these spaces.
The interior intervention is light-touch, improving circulation and aligning the home's layout with contemporary family life requirements without compromising the historic character. The reorganization introduces a clear distinction between public, private, and service areas, with a concealed door within the kitchen joinery leading to a boot room and utility space.
The extension's materiality and color palette carefully reference East Lothian's brick and sandstone heritage. The blush-toned stone wall's color palette echoes the region's sandstone, while modern materials like concrete and glass complement the historic fabric with a contemporary elegance.
The renovation was managed by the client, who also served as the project manager. The kitchen now serves as the social heart of the home and opens onto a small internal courtyard and the garden, making it the ideal space for family gatherings and entertaining. The project sensitively balances heritage preservation with architectural innovation, respecting the farmhouse’s historic fabric and its patchworked evolution, while introducing a refined, modern addition that enhances connection with the garden and adapts the layout to modern living.
[1] Pend Architects [2] Dezeen
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- The interior-design of the renovated Whitberry farmhouse introduces a light-touch treatment that aligns the home's layout with contemporary lifestyle requirements, without compromising the historic character.
- The transformation of Whitberry farmhouse by Pend Architects showcases a blend of interior-design and home-and-garden elements, as full-height glazing and timber sliding doors connect interior spaces with the garden, creating a harmonious living space that suits modern family life.
