Ochre Barn by Carl Turner Architects | Norfolk, England.
Photo by Damian Russell, via Carl Turner Architects.
Ochre Barn is a multi purpose development that houses a retreat, studio space and a private residence for Carl Turner, principal of London based studio Carl Turner Architects, and his partner Mary Martin. Despite it’s rural setting at Norfolk in England (see previous project in the same area I blogged about before), let me tell ya there is nothing remotely “agricultural” about these buildings. No sir!
Admittedly, this project caught my eye a couple of weeks ago, however I wasn’t really sure whether to post about it or not. Why? Because of the abundant use of the ever so controversial Oriented Strand Board (OSB) all over the interior, and I simply didn’t know how I felt about it. So I decided to sleep on it for a few days and… here we are! I’ve managed to make peace with it and, even more so, actually start liking it.
The OSB is intended to be reminiscent of the straw bales that fill many adjacent barns in the Norfolk area. And even if we put this “romantic” conceptual idea aside, I like the way the OSB elements are executed – pure and crisp forms sit quite comfortably with polished concrete floors, exposed brick, black pre-finished plywood boards, high ceilings lined in white plaster etc. Everything does get a bit more intense in certain parts where OSB “attacks” – every wall, floor and ceiling surface inside the residential barn extension (Stealth Barn) is lined with it - but somehow this still works for me. There is something right in it’s wrogness and deliberate overuse – it creates an immersive interior landscape which doesn’t feel too precious or takes itself to seriously.
Besides, isn’t it great to see a project which breaks the established rules and commits wholeheartedly to a material others are so fearful of? These kinds of examples are exactly what pushes other architects and designers forward, and helps generate new and exciting ideas for all of us to build on.
As always, I would love to hear your thoughts on this… Anyone?
Photo by Tim Crocker and Jeremy Phillips, via Carl Turner Architects.
Photo by Tim Crocker and Jeremy Phillips, via Carl Turner Architects.
[Unless otherwise noted, all images via Dwell. Photos by Christoffer Rudquist.]
Photo by Damian Russell, via Carl Turner Architects.
Ochre Barn is a multi purpose development that houses a retreat, studio space and a private residence for Carl Turner, principal of London based studio Carl Turner Architects, and his partner Mary Martin. Despite it’s rural setting at Norfolk in England (see previous project in the same area I blogged about before), let me tell ya there is nothing remotely “agricultural” about these buildings. No sir!
Admittedly, this project caught my eye a couple of weeks ago, however I wasn’t really sure whether to post about it or not. Why? Because of the abundant use of the ever so controversial Oriented Strand Board (OSB) all over the interior, and I simply didn’t know how I felt about it. So I decided to sleep on it for a few days and… here we are! I’ve managed to make peace with it and, even more so, actually start liking it.
The OSB is intended to be reminiscent of the straw bales that fill many adjacent barns in the Norfolk area. And even if we put this “romantic” conceptual idea aside, I like the way the OSB elements are executed – pure and crisp forms sit quite comfortably with polished concrete floors, exposed brick, black pre-finished plywood boards, high ceilings lined in white plaster etc. Everything does get a bit more intense in certain parts where OSB “attacks” – every wall, floor and ceiling surface inside the residential barn extension (Stealth Barn) is lined with it - but somehow this still works for me. There is something right in it’s wrogness and deliberate overuse – it creates an immersive interior landscape which doesn’t feel too precious or takes itself to seriously.
Besides, isn’t it great to see a project which breaks the established rules and commits wholeheartedly to a material others are so fearful of? These kinds of examples are exactly what pushes other architects and designers forward, and helps generate new and exciting ideas for all of us to build on.
As always, I would love to hear your thoughts on this… Anyone?
Photo by Tim Crocker and Jeremy Phillips, via Carl Turner Architects.
Photo by Tim Crocker and Jeremy Phillips, via Carl Turner Architects.
[Unless otherwise noted, all images via Dwell. Photos by Christoffer Rudquist.]
8 Responses to “Ochre Barn by Carl Turner Architects | Norfolk, England.”
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Jonathan says:To me it feels like one of those spaces where an architect has designed the interior, when he really should have have employed an interior designer. I don’t have a problem in refined minimalism, but it’s like he’s sucked the life force out of the place. I mean, c’mon, look at the shot of them having dinner, it’s like some sort of Amish wake. Does any one actually live here? The only shot that remotely feels like there’s any energy in the place is the second one where there’s some framed prints & photos on a sideboard. For me, having to liveg here would feel like a prison sentence. Meh!
haha! ‘amish wake’. I like a lot of it but its visually too homogenised. Too much of the same thing to look at…bit boring. I love the moveable bed pod the best. The black exterior part is nice though.
I really like how the OSB has been used in this space. A lot of it, however it works, although not sure I could live with it?
I am starting to use OSB in smaller pieces of joinery eg bathrooms with pops of grass green. The green compliments the material well.
hmmm, well there is a part of me that really likes the whole concept, but I think I’m going to sleep on it… thanks for sharing…
Leigh says:Wow, it’s certainly a striking project ad look at the emotion it evokes… Like art architecture is subjective and well done for posting something that pushes people’s boundaries and challenges traditional concepts. At first my thought was “oh my you wouldn’t want to get it wet as it would swell and look terrible” however then it’s in the bathroom and someone commented about use in wet areas. It must be more environmental than traditional timbers being made of recyclable materials? And therefore should be promoted as a viable building material! Greening it up!! It’s pretty cool!
I’d be interested also to find out if it is infact a “green” product. When you think about what holds together all of the recycled material to make a board may be some sort of resin or glue, perhaps it is not as environmetally friendly as it looks. Might be high in VOC’s and emit toxic gasses?
Having said that, there are elements of this design that I like…
Natasha says:Usually, particle board is quite toxic, though there might be some non-toxic varieties out there. That would be the main reason for me to stay away from it. I don’t mind the look, but here there is just a bit too much of it. Perhaps if the floor were polished concrete or something else for balance. I quite like the exterior, though.
Ezabelle says:I think if I lived in this building, all that “speckledness” (hope thats a word) of the OSB would probably eventually grow on me.
I do like how using such a raw honest material actually liberates you from the perfectionism of the usual clean white walls. You really feel free to live here without being too precious.
It’s like one big cubby-house- but in a good way- no fuss, and only the minimum of walls and fixtures needed to live.
Haha- yes abit Amish! But I get the intent. So I do like it.
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To me it feels like one of those spaces where an architect has designed the interior, when he really should have have employed an interior designer. I don’t have a problem in refined minimalism, but it’s like he’s sucked the life force out of the place. I mean, c’mon, look at the shot of them having dinner, it’s like some sort of Amish wake. Does any one actually live here? The only shot that remotely feels like there’s any energy in the place is the second one where there’s some framed prints & photos on a sideboard. For me, having to liveg here would feel like a prison sentence. Meh!
haha! ‘amish wake’. I like a lot of it but its visually too homogenised. Too much of the same thing to look at…bit boring. I love the moveable bed pod the best. The black exterior part is nice though.
I really like how the OSB has been used in this space. A lot of it, however it works, although not sure I could live with it?
I am starting to use OSB in smaller pieces of joinery eg bathrooms with pops of grass green. The green compliments the material well.
hmmm, well there is a part of me that really likes the whole concept, but I think I’m going to sleep on it… thanks for sharing…
Wow, it’s certainly a striking project ad look at the emotion it evokes… Like art architecture is subjective and well done for posting something that pushes people’s boundaries and challenges traditional concepts. At first my thought was “oh my you wouldn’t want to get it wet as it would swell and look terrible” however then it’s in the bathroom and someone commented about use in wet areas. It must be more environmental than traditional timbers being made of recyclable materials? And therefore should be promoted as a viable building material! Greening it up!! It’s pretty cool!
I’d be interested also to find out if it is infact a “green” product. When you think about what holds together all of the recycled material to make a board may be some sort of resin or glue, perhaps it is not as environmetally friendly as it looks. Might be high in VOC’s and emit toxic gasses?
Having said that, there are elements of this design that I like…
Usually, particle board is quite toxic, though there might be some non-toxic varieties out there. That would be the main reason for me to stay away from it. I don’t mind the look, but here there is just a bit too much of it. Perhaps if the floor were polished concrete or something else for balance. I quite like the exterior, though.
I think if I lived in this building, all that “speckledness” (hope thats a word) of the OSB would probably eventually grow on me.
I do like how using such a raw honest material actually liberates you from the perfectionism of the usual clean white walls. You really feel free to live here without being too precious.
It’s like one big cubby-house- but in a good way- no fuss, and only the minimum of walls and fixtures needed to live.
Haha- yes abit Amish! But I get the intent. So I do like it.