Penllyn Court | Vale of Glamorgan
The repair and re-envisioning of an historic estate in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The remodelling of the Penllyn Estate reflects a new chapter in the evolution and diversification of the Homfray family’s multi-generational operations on this predominantly agricultural landscape.
Following on from their successful establishment of the Forage Farm Shop and Restaurant, quality, community and sustainability were key generators of a working brief that looked at adapting Penllyn Court and Cedar Cottage to meet the evolving requirements of their young families. The refurbishment and extension of the existing pool building forms a shared space around which home life takes place, whilst the provision of a biomass boiler provides a communal heating solution, fuelled by the sustainable management of over 65 hectares of new and restored ancient woodland.
The principal homestead of the Penllyn Estate sits at the northern end of the village of Penllyn, with its expansive domain rolling out across the broad, lowland fields of the Upper Thaw Valley. The site slopes from north to south and consists of the substantial 2-storey, L-shaped dwelling of Penllyn Court at the lower level, the adjacent residential property of Cedar Cottage, a small bungalow to the north and a number of farm buildings to the upper level. These are all gathered around a walled swimming pool with associated service building that sits on a mid-level terrace, linked by pathways and an estate road that winds through the site and facilitating access for farm traffic.
Suffering from an inherent lack of cohesion and legibility due to a number of ad-hoc alterations and additions undertaken throughout its history, Penllyn Court was extensively remodelled in association with a number of sensitive repairs to its historic fabric. A formal entrance and sense of arrival was created to the north elevation, whilst new connections were forged internally to provide improved circulation and an open plan living, kitchen and dining space. This now acts as the main hub of the home, flooded with natural light from the removal of many of the poor-quality extensions, and new openings that link with the immaculately maintained gardens of the surrounding setting.
Similarly to Penllyn Court, Cedar Cottage consisted of a number of separate and disparate spaces internally, together with a poor connection to its surrounding and extensive landscape. In addressing the brief to create a family home, a new kitchen and dining space was created within the footprint of the existing house with a supporting utility room and larder space. Together with the renewal of interna fixtures, fittings and finishes, new openings were formed allowing the dining room to link directly with the garden spaces, and creating a corner window to a new home office that maximises views out across the picturesque lake to the west of the house.
Together with the works to the residential properties the existing swimming pool building was extended to incorporate a family changing area, shower, washroom facilities, sauna and gym. A replacement roof was provided over the existing building to incorporate the extended footprint. Clad in slate, this was used to wrap the northern elevation, with a lighter weight timber providing a warmth to the west elevation and extensive glazing to the east elevation. The south elevation to the walled pool area retains its original appearance supplemented by sliding timber doors opening out to the pool area.
The new biomass plant was provided to the north of the Pool building, within an existing, unused farm outbuilding. Requiring a good understanding of the appropriateness and impact of the various sustainable energy sources available to the Estate, consent was received through close collaboration and communication with both the system designer and the local authority. This was continued into the relationship with the contractor during installation, ensuring the project was brought online to meet all necessary deadlines, with the Estate now benefitting both from the associated energy security and the heat it provides.
In dealing collectively with several otherwise disparate buildings, it was important that the overall strategy adopted would provide a coherent and considered whole on completion. In order to achieve this an overarching design philosophy was developed that looked to guide the decision making process. This placed a hierarchy of historic importance and significance onto the various buildings, with Penllyn Court, although not listed, setting the principal character of the composition.
Revealing the historic character of this building through the removal of more modern extensions, allied with its immaculately maintained gardens, would invariably enhance the overall setting of the development, embedding it in the historical evolution of the Estate. Through a consistency of approach in unveiling and repairing the historically significant elements of Cedar Cottage and the pool building, the origins of the buildings and their sense of place within the history of the estate were similarly retained. This provided a strong base against which new elements could be introduced in a complimentary, yet distinctively modern style that allowed current opportunities to be maximised, including improved connections between the buildings and their surrounding landscape. This has afforded the adaptation of these buildings in a sensitive manner, so they deliver on all the expectations of modern living and remain relevant going forwards to their current occupants.
The project demonstrated how to successfully evolve and adapt an historic estate in a sustainable manner. Through diversification and undertaking value based decisions that consider whole life costs, the Penllyn Estate is addressing many of the significant challenges it faced, providing a viable future going forwards centred on the home.
