ProjectSun Barn
LocationHampshire
ClientPrivate
StatusPlanning DRP
A climate resilient, net zero carbon home, powered by the sun
A Climate-Resilient Barn Conversion
Sun Barn is a pioneering environmental barn conversion that gained planning permission in February 2025. Rooted in Solar House principles, the house harnesses solar energy to power the building, ensuring it is both highly energy-efficient and cost-effective to operate. Two new sunrooms will optimise natural light and stunning views while providing bright, airy spaces for the owners to enjoy.
What is a Solar House?
With the UK climate projected to resemble today’s Barcelona by 2050, there is an urgent need for low-carbon, climate-resilient buildings that are comfortable to live in year-round, while making use of the renewable energy source; Solar House harnesses the sun's energy, which generates enough power in just 90 minutes to meet global energy demands for an entire year.
A Solar House is designed with principles that include orientation, thermal mass, solar shading, heat distribution, stack ventilation, and high-performance glazing, all aimed at maximising energy efficiency and comfort.
Carbon Negative Design
The most sustainable building is one that already exists. Sun Barn takes a redundant existing building, applying Solar House principles to make it both high performance and comfortable for the long term, thus enhancing quality of life and value of land for future generations.
Making low-carbon material decisions, Sun Barn will be ‘carbon negative’ within 32 years, with the planted trees within its small site boundary having sequestered more carbon than was released by the barn’s construction.
The Barn Conversion
Sun Barn is a hyper-efficient design which uses both passive design principles and active building technologies to harness and control solar gains, reducing its need for mechanical heating in winter and preventing overheating in summer.
The two sun rooms will add a modest 12m2 to the footprint of the building, facilitating the heating and cooling strategy of the barn as well as creating beautiful living spaces. By excluding the sunrooms from the thermal envelope, the design eliminates the need for costly triple-glazed systems. Instead, a simpler single-glazed timber frame system is used, significantly reducing both environmental impact and costs.
Our design approach to improve the building performance and create ultra-comfortable living space includes:
- Minimising structural changes
- Maximising views without overheating
- Enhancing airflow
- Improving the barn’s appearance
- Blending seamlessly with the natural environment
Collaborative Planning Process
Studio Bark worked closely with Test Valley Council to secure planning permission. Initially proposing the barn conversion through Paragraph 139 of the NPPF, the team collaborated with the council to find a local policy that could support the project. The policy requires only minor changes to the barn’s overall footprint, aligning with the Sun Barn ethos of minimal environmental impact.
The landscape design, by Studio 31, integrates Sun Barn with the surrounding environment, featuring extensive tree and meadow planting that enhances local biodiversity and complements the building.
“Studio Bark have always been encouraging, creative and enthusiastic - even through the inevitable planning hurdles. And now we are really looking forward to seeing the project materialise … and moving into the finished building” - Sun Barn client
