Jankes Barn is situated in a hamlet close to Wakes Colne in Essex, about 10 miles northwest of Colchester. The project comprises the refurbishment and conversion of three structures grouped around a courtyard. A large, Grade II listed late 18th century threshing barn sits next to an early 20th century stable block and piggery, by Lynch Architects.
The jury says: "The scale is both domestic and awe inspiring. The clarity of thinking alongside the restrained use of materials brings meticulous detailing into focus. Flooring is of bricks beautifully laid in a grid structure that continues without mortar externally.
With the client in charge, and having stripped everything back to the timber frame, local timber expert and master carpenter Dr Joseph Bispham restored and made it structurally sound above the retained brick ‘ground’. Only then was a contract placed for the main building works supervised by the architects. This two-stage process in some ways appears to have liberated the design thinking so that the new cladding – with structural strengthening, birch-faced ply internally and traditional black boarding externally – butts up or embraces the old timbers to create the outer skin."
Read the full citation from the RIBA Awards Jury on RIBA Journal here.
Project Team
Contractor John W. Younger Ltd
Landscape architect Joanne Bernstein Garden Design
Structural engineer Rodrigues Associates
Environmental/M&E engineer Max Fordham
Transport consultant Momentum Transport Planning
Historic building consultant David Andrews
Lighting design Candra Lighting Ltd