09/11/2026
New Work for Richmond Bell Architects / Richmond Bell Architects Ltd
This five bedroom new build house near Shaftesbury is part of a Class Q barn conversion. In an exciting first for Richmond Bell, the project sits entirely off-grid, with sustainability at the core of its design. Where one might expect a rustic timber cabin, Richmond Bell present a luxurious, spacious home that defies every expectation of the off-grid dwelling.
Running entirely on solar energy, the house is built under Class Q permitted development rights – which allows redundant agricultural buildings to be converted into residential homes without the need for a full planning application.
Out of respect for its context, the design draws on the traditional barn vernacular, using a series of gabled blocks to cleverly compose a country home.
Varying in both scale and sensibility, each volume employs contrasting materials and glazing systems, creating an intriguing tension between contemporary architecture and cottage-core aesthetics.
What do you think?
—
Location : Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK
Architect : Richmond Bell Architects Ltd
Contractor : Roman & Fox
Planning Consultants : Atlas Planning Group
Structural Engineer : JCP Engineers - Structural and Civil Engineering
Landscape Design: Fi Boyle MSGLD
Glazing : Fabrizio Cottiglia +
Photography : FRENCH+TYE _ Architectural Photography
Selected Press Features : Architectural Digest Germany / Archello / enki magazine / The Times and Sunday Times
