Nibthwaite Barn
Planning consent was secured for a new community arts hub and garden in Nibthwaite, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Lake District. The consent follows over two years work with an enlightened client, to create a community arts and performance space with a live-in artist in residency.
The existing building, a stone bank-barn, will be sensitively restored and insulated internally with lime and hemp insulation. A small timber extension will contain the necessary functions to allow the main barn space to remain flexible, able to accommodate a range of community events and activities. The barn will provide a valuable arts and performance space and will include ground floor accommodation for a live-in artist in residence and a maker’s workshop space.
The project will be highly insulated and use air source heat pumps and has been predicted to emit 4.6 kgCO2/m²/year (equivalent to 6% the emissions of a typical cultural building) approaching Net Zero in carbon emissions. Embodied carbon is minimised with locally sourced timber and stone walling.
The garden is being designed with Karen Guthrie of Grizedale Arts, with an emphasis on sustainable material use and re-use, and naturalistic planting that encourages and supports biodiversity.
Construction of the project will commence in spring 2024.
Client: Alex Knapp & Roses Urquhart
Location: High Nibthwaite, Lake District National Park
Status: Construction
Team: Carter Gregson Gray with Karen Guthrie landscape designer, Structure Workshop and Max Fordham
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