It’s very rewarding to have a client who is dedicated to bringing old buildings back to life. Not only does it help preserve the heritage and character of the area, it also reinforces a sense of place, while helping us to meet net-zero targets – the construction sector is responsible for an incredible 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Balcaskie Estate, near St Monans in the East Neuk of Fife, commissioned Halvorsen Architects to convert Balcormo farm steading – the third steading on the estate to be renovated. The first, Bowhouse, has been converted into a regenerative food market and hub. The second, Comielaw, now provides premises for a collection of artisanal industries. These are both sensitive and sustainable conversions by Konishi Gaffney Architects, transforming disused steadings into thriving centres for the community and local commerce. Balcormo will house larger workshops, including the campervan conversion workshop that already operates from there.
Balcormo steading includes a mixture of farm buildings of different dates and qualities – including several small stone Georgian buildings and some larger 20th century barns. The plan is to revitalise the mostly disused collection of buildings by introducing new smaller workshop and office units at its heart, refurbishing the existing Georgian buildings and enhancing and enlarging the only residential cottage.
Halvorsen Architects was initially asked to produce a “sustainable retrofit” guide for use at Balcormo and across the wider Balcaskie estate. This outlines a range of options for retrofitting the existing 18th and 19th-century farm buildings on the site, prioritising the use of natural materials. The guide is intended for the use of local builders, many of whom may lack specialist skills, and includes how to refurbish with hempcrete. Balcaskie Estate is in the privileged position to be able to experiment with different construction and conversion techniques to establish what works best.
In keeping with earlier steading conversions at Balcaskie Estate, the focus is on communal living. Each steading is provided with a common kitchen, meeting room and shared garden, where tenants can grow their own fruit and vegetables. In this case, a small Georgian barn is to be converted into the group’s meeting room and shared office space. All the buildings are being designed to be as flexible as possible, so they can adapt to changing needs.
The original cottage will be stripped back to its original core, with the addition of a large extension entirely clad in corrugated corten steel, giving it a striking contemporary look, contrasting with the existing sandstone building. The other buildings will be clad in timber sourced from the surrounding estate. The conversion goes beyond preserving the past, to bring buildings into the modern world and hopefully create a dynamic future for the community.
The steading is to be powered by a local renewable energy scheme using photovoltaic panels and a biomass boiler, fuelled with timber grown on the estate.
