These converted farm buildings are beyond cool
Thomas Kröger Architekt / Thomas Heimann
Agricultural structures transformed into fantastic family homes
Fancy living in a rustic residence steeped in history? These old agricultural buildings were once home to pigs, sheep, cattle, tractors and hay. However, with a little creative thinking and a lot of elbow grease, they've been transformed into stylish family properties with plenty of character. Now a far cry from the farmyard, click or scroll on to see inside these incredible conversions...
Farmhouse, Quebec, Canada
Montreal-based architects TBA turned a gabled farmhouse into a modern white home with an extension. Located in Quebec, Knowlton Residence features a new sleek corrugated metal roof and painted white brick exterior, while the extension is clad in charred cedar boarding. Both materials were chosen to help the home blend in with the old barns and newer agricultural sheds in the area.
Farmhouse, Quebec, Canada
The aim of the project was to the old fixer-upper house into a permanent residence for the clients. The main entrance to the home leads through to the original gabled structure, which is where the open-plan kitchen and dining room flow into the sitting room in the extension. A window wraps around the lower level of the home, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
Farmhouse, Quebec, Canada
The architects picked minimalist finishes throughout the home, including the kitchen, which features sleek white cupboards, light hardwood floors and plenty of built-in storage for a streamlined finish.
Farmhouse, Quebec, Canada
The design was chosen to complement the homeowner's Scandinavian-inspired furniture. Most of the walls were left white, offset by thick black window frames and accent walls, creating a striking, monochrome palette.
Mark Lipczynski / Kaiserworks
Grain silo tiny home, Arizona, USA
Architectural designer Christoph Kaiser bought this 1950s steel grain silo from Craigslist and turned it into a stylish tiny home spanning just 340 square feet. The amazing round house sits within a desert garden that includes 16 mesquite trees and a water feature.
Matt Winquist / Kaiserworks
Grain silo tiny home, Arizona, USA
The interior of the upcycled tiny house reflects the elegant curves of the silo's exterior and includes bespoke cabinetry and furniture. Christoph even made the property's sliding door himself using Polygal, which is usually used in greenhouses. The interior is welcoming yet simple, with the rich grain of the walnut cabinetry providing warmth and texture.
Mark Lipczynski / Kaiserworks
Grain silo tiny home, Arizona, USA
A space-saving spiral staircase leads up to the mezzanine bedroom, which is a comfortable size with standing room at either side of the bespoke bed. From the windows, you can glimpse jaw-dropping views across the spectacular Phoenix skyline.
Mark Lipczynski / Kaiserworks
Grain silo tiny home, Arizona, USA
The bathroom includes a shower and is located on the ground floor of the property. It's the only private space in the otherwise open-plan layout. Christoph also considered the materials of the house when looking at the internal systems, burying a passive cooling system underground instead of within the metal walls in an effort to reduce noise.
Atelier Data / Richard John Seymour
Horse stables, Alcácer do Sal, Portugal
Lisbon-based studio Atelier Data converted a row of stables in Alcácer do Sal, Portugal, into a perfect holiday home for a family. The architects removed the partitions that separated each stable but kept the building's central pathway to use as a long corridor stretching through the entire house.
Atelier Data / Richard John Seymour
Horse stables, Alcácer do Sal, Portugal
The stables have now been transformed into five equally sized rooms, separated by walls that contain toilets and wardrobes, while the interior, including the wooden trusses and ceiling beams, has been completely whitewashed to create a fresh coastal feel.
Atelier Data / Richard John Seymour
Horse stables, Alcácer do Sal, Portugal
The main corridor runs through the centre of every room but can be closed off if needed with wooden doors. Waxed concrete floors extend across the house, apart from the kitchen and bathrooms, where colourful mosaic tiles have been used. These resistant and affordable materials were chosen to fit in with the old building's style and to suit its new use as a home.
Atelier Data / Richard John Seymour
Horse stables, Alcácer do Sal, Portugal
Four out of the five rooms are used as bedrooms and each has a sink decorated by artist João Mouro. The extraordinary home conversion also has 16 glazed entrances instead of just one standard front door, which let light flood into the home.
Gangoly & Kristiner Architekten / Paul Ott
House P, Styria, Austria
What used to be an old farmstead has been converted into a stylish home by Gangoly & Kristiner Architekten. Located in Western Styria in Austria, House P is made up of the main house plus four annexes, all of which used to be traditional farm buildings.
Gangoly & Kristiner Architekten / Paul Ott
House P, Styria, Austria
The original farmhouse is still the main residential building today. The former stable, as well as other agricultural buildings used for the production and storage of wine, have been converted into guesthouses and a pool and wellness house. The communal areas in the main house are located on the lower floor and look out over the expansive countryside, while the bedrooms are located on the second level and set within the pitched roof.
Gangoly & Kristiner Architekten / Paul Ott
House P, Styria, Austria
The interior design blends together traditional and contemporary elements. The pitched roof was constructed using a traditional combination of timber siding and brick, while the ground level features modern expansive glazing, drawing the rolling fields inside.
Gangoly & Kristiner Architekten / Paul Ott
House P, Styria, Austria
Covering a total of 3,500 square feet, the courtyard also contains a swimming pool, which looks out over the breathtaking hills that flank the fabulous farmhouse and its estate.
Old Shed New House, North Yorkshire, UK
Architecture studio Tonkin Liu converted this barn in the English county of North Yorkshire into a modern home. The agricultural shed, which was once a storage space for tools, was taken down to the bare bones of its steel frame and ground slab. Named Old Shed New House, the new exterior is made up of galvanised steel fins combined with shot-blasted timber, which help the home to blend in with the surrounding silver birch trees.
Old Shed New House, North Yorkshire, UK
Inside, the house is made up of a series of connected rooms, with a double-height space in the centre. The library looks out over the garden through a large south-facing window, which is shielded from direct sunlight by the louvres placed in front of the glass. Filled with dappled light, the room was designed to evoke a forest clearing in the heart of the home.
Old Shed New House, North Yorkshire, UK
Sitting adjacent to the gallery space is the open-plan kitchen and dining room. The sleek kitchen features glossy cabinets and a streamlined, minimalist design, while clever skylights draw in plenty of light.
Old Shed New House, North Yorkshire, UK
Shortlisted for RIBA House of the Year 2018, the shed has been completely transformed into a stylish rural residence with airy high ceilings and no end of cosy corners. The bold building mixes elements of the traditional agricultural structure with a clean modern look that still fits in with its woodland setting.
Julius Taminiau Architects
Potato shed, The Netherlands
Located on the site of a former farm in the Netherlands, Julius Taminiau Architects rebuilt this old cow shed, creating a modern residence clad in timber slats to reflect the original building. The new home is named after Vincent van Gogh's painting 'The Potato Eaters', as the architects felt as if they were stepping into the artwork when they entered the original structure.
Julius Taminiau Architects
Potato shed, The Netherlands
The old foundations of the cow shed were retained for the new design of the Potato Shed, which includes a guesthouse in an old farmhouse and a workshop in a former stable, all located on a tree-filled plot.
Julius Taminiau Architects
Potato shed, The Netherlands
Spread over two floors, the main house offers a large living, kitchen and dining area on the ground floor, with two large windows looking out over the surrounding landscape. Upstairs, there are two airy bedrooms under a pitched roof, while plywood panelling adds a sleek, modern finish.
Julius Taminiau Architects
Potato shed, The Netherlands
Alongside the open glazing, additional windows and doors have been concealed behind the exterior timber cladding, which help to keep the living spaces bright and well-ventilated in the summer months.
Austin Maynard Architects / Derek Swalwell
Stables, Victoria, Australia
Austin Maynard Architects created this home for a family of four by renovating a dilapidated horse stable. The architects built a curved extension onto the neighbouring plot and also added a new garden to the home, which is located in the suburb of Fitzroy, Melbourne. Offering a sensitive nod to the structure's past, the upper half of the property is clad in the same corrugated metal as the original stables.
Austin Maynard Architects / Derek Swalwell
Stables, Victoria, Australia
A rippled glass corridor connects the converted stable with both the renovated main house and the new single-storey extension, which contains a large open-plan living and dining area.
Austin Maynard Architects / Derek Swalwell
Stables, Victoria, Australia
The stable was previously in disrepair, so the architects had to restore the timber framework, brick walls and original fireplace. The building was then given a new curvaceous façade and transformed into the stunning Australian home we see today.
Austin Maynard Architects / Derek Swalwell
Stables, Victoria, Australia
The two-storey renovation now hosts a study on the ground floor, while upstairs is a master bedroom and bathroom suite. An unusual netted platform projects out of the bedroom to offer residents a space for relaxation. The home is also filled with bespoke furnishings, including curved seating alcoves and custom-built shelving units.
Thomas Kröger Architekt / Thomas Heimann
19th-century barn, Uckermark, Germany
Situated in Uckermark, north of Berlin, this large barn was converted into a country house by Thomas Kröger Architekt. The barn was built 140 years ago from brick and timber and was recently divided into two semi-detached houses. One of the halves has now been redesigned for a young family.
Thomas Kröger Architekt / Thomas Heimann
19th-century barn, Uckermark, Germany
The entire building was upgraded and was designed with energy efficiency in mind. The great hall isn't heated but is surrounded by a number of private rooms which are insulated on the inside with a clay plaster, which means that in colder seasons only the smaller rooms are used.
Thomas Kröger Architekt / Thomas Heimann
19th-century barn, Uckermark, Germany
Right next to the hall is the elevated living room and spacious kitchen. From here you can see the three new arched openings outside, which can be closed off with large wooden gates or left open to look out over the orchard.
Thomas Kröger Architekt / Thomas Heimann
19th-century barn, Uckermark, Germany
Upstairs, the three bedrooms, two bathrooms and two offices surround the great hall. There's also a handy guest annex at the end of the barn with its own entrance, as well as a connecting door to the central hall.
Adrien Fouéré / HeathWalker Studio
Tractor shed, Hertfordshire, UK
HeathWalker Studio renovated a tractor shed in Hertfordshire, UK, transforming it into a modern four-bedroom home for an artist, complete with two studio spaces. Clad in timber cut from trees on the client's land and then scorched with a blowtorch, the architect made use of the precast concrete frame and agricultural proportions in the new design.
Adrien Fouéré / HeathWalker Studio
Tractor shed, Hertfordshire, UK
On the lower floor, the house features polished concrete floors, while upstairs there are characterful solid oak boards. The open-plan kitchen and living room have been designed to show off the huge scale of the barn with double-height ceilings and views out onto the garden and beyond.
Adrien Fouéré / HeathWalker Studio
Tractor shed, Hertfordshire, UK
A minimalist palette of natural materials was chosen for the modern barn home, while pitched ceilings and the building's original exposed concrete framework can be seen throughout.
Adrien Fouéré / HeathWalker Studio
Tractor shed, Hertfordshire, UK
The first-floor bedroom is bright and open with plenty of storage space. Wood-burning stoves heat both downstairs and the upper level, while a heat recovery system helps to naturally ventilate the home.
Love these fantastic conversions? Find more amazing homes on our Twitter page