The Grade II listed Cane End House used to look out onto a collection of cattle barns and outdoor pens. This project, which combined new build with refurbishment and extensive landscaping, created a unified livery stable complex by sensitively marrying the old with the new.
The harmonious integration of all buildings on the site was achieved by combining traditional repairs with sympathetic architectural detailing.
The new build elements include livery stables for 27 horses and a new hay barn in the form of an L-shaped American-style barn. These two new buildings border a livery yard with a horse washing station at its centre. Both buildings use materials and architectural details that respect the character of the existing farm buildings.
Existing buildings were extended and converted to provide private stabling for five horses and a tack room. Beard team also re-roofed and renovated a Grade II listed house and converted it into two staff flats. A third new building houses a series of garages and workshops.
The Cane End Stud project won a Chiltern Design Award and a commendation in the 2004 regional RIBA Conservation Awards.
Challenges and solutions
Beard had to work closely with the design team to ensure attention to detail and the high quality of workmanship that was needed to achieve the integration of new and old buildings.
All construction work had to be carefully planned to avoid causing distress to horses in adjacent stables.
Site access and construction traffic had to be tightly controlled and co-ordinated because livery vehicles were arriving and departing throughout the day.
