Design Buy Build Issue 38 2019 | Page 10

The project began with a huge dig-out to keep the extension roof below the level of the historic barn. The courtyard garden was surrounded by an original flint wall; we used modern gabions filled with limestone as a contemporary take on this vernacular style. The koi carp pond was positioned so the sound of running water would be audible inside the house, creating a calming background sound; reflections from the water play on the internal walls and ceilings when the sun comes out. We planted four white Himalayan birch trees to mark out the external dining area; simple prairie-grass borders give height and movement all year. The porcelain tiles in the glazed entrance were laid from inside to out, creating a contemporary platform and blurring the boundary between the two areas. www.pfeifferdesign.co.uk 10