The old stables
The Old Stables is a Grade II listed brick and flint building dating back to 1792, located within the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. NENMAR transforms a former agricultural outbuilding, historically known as the "Cowhouse of Greenfield Manor", into a high-performing contemporary home, while carefully preserving its architectural heritage.
A new extension is introduced to the front of the site, creating a clear distinction between old and new. A lightweight Corten steel and glass link connects the two elements, while the material palette - rammed earth walls, locally sourced limestone, and a reinterpreted long straw thatched roof - reflects NENMAR commitment to both heritage and sustainability.
Through this sensitive yet contemporary intervention, The Old Stables has been reimagined as a destination one-off home that is adaptable, light-filled, and connected to its surroundings - a unique example of heritage-led design in the UK countryside.
TOS/2311
LOCATION \ GREENFIELD, WATLINGTON, UK
SIZE \ 400M²
STATUS \ RIBA STAGE 4 TECHNICAL DESIGN
SECTOR \ RESIDENTIAL
SERVICES \ ARCHITECTURE \ INTERIOR DESIGN
Rammed Earth
Limestone
Thatch
Natural Oak
Corten
The Old Stables adopts a fabric-first approach, prioritising the retention of the existing Grade II listed structure to minimise embodied carbon. The new extension uses low-impact materials such as rammed earth, locally sourced limestone, and thatch, providing thermal mass and responding to the rural context.
Passive design strategies optimise solar gain, natural light, and shading, reducing energy demand. This is supported by high-performance insulation, glazing, and a ground source heat pump for efficient, low-carbon heating.
Together, these measures create a sustainable, high-performing home that balances heritage conservation with contemporary environmental design.
