Perham Farm

The five-panel configuration at Perham Farm was designed to maximise the opening between the internal and external spaces. With each panel able to slide into a pocket at either side of the opening, the doors can be moved away from the central aperture to create a substantially unobstructed connection with the outdoors.

The thermally broken minimal windows® system provides the performance required for a large glazed opening within the converted barn, while the ultra-slim sightlines allow natural light to pass through the expansive glazed elevation. The sliding doors also work alongside the timber structure, with the glazing and timber beams carefully aligned to create a cohesive architectural composition.

At the front of the opening, traditional brown timber shutters provide privacy and security when the space is not in use. Internally, the warm timber posts and beams contrast with the aluminium profiles of the sliding doors, combining the character of the original barn with contemporary glazing.

The project demonstrates how slim sliding doors can be incorporated into a Somerset barn conversion to create a flexible relationship between an existing building and its surrounding landscape. The combination of large-format glazing, slim aluminium sightlines and a pocketing configuration allows the original character of the barn to remain prominent while introducing a modern connection between the interior and exterior.

The alignment between the timber beams and interlocking sections of the sliding system was also carefully considered during the design process, ensuring the separate elements of the building worked together visually and technically.

Location: Taunton, Somerset