Converting a barn into a private wellness and work space
Hassocks, West Sussex
Where it started
The barn on our client’s land had bags of character. Good bones, interesting structure, the kind of space that makes you stop and think about what it could become. But in practice, it wasn’t really being used. It was cold, dark, and had gradually drifted to the edges of daily life. The potential was obviously there. It just needed someone to unlock it.
What the owners wanted
The brief was pretty clear: create somewhere that earns its keep every single day. A place to train in the morning, get some focused work done, and step away from the main house when you need a change of scene. Not just a tidied-up barn. Something that genuinely feels like a destination.
What we designed
The whole interior was reimagined from scratch. The final layout brings together a private gym, two personal offices, a lounge area, and a dedicated log store, all under one roof. Large double doors open straight out to the garden, and a run of skylights along the roofline lets natural light pour into the building.
It’s not set up for one single purpose. The idea is that it flexes throughout the day depending on what you need.
How we approached it
The big challenge, and the fun of it, was holding onto the barn’s character while making it genuinely warm, light, and practical to use.
The skylights made a huge difference. What could easily have been a gloomy interior now feels open and uplifting, even on greyer days. The double doors reinforce that connection to the outside, and in warmer months the gym and lounge areas naturally spill out into the garden.
Inside, everything is carefully zoned. The gym sits where it gets the best light and the best views out. The offices are tucked in a bit more, quieter and more contained, better for actually getting things done. The lounge acts as a breathing space between the two, somewhere to decompress between a workout and a call.
Keeping it sustainable
An air source heat pump handles the heating throughout the building. Efficient, low carbon, and much less reliant on traditional systems. Paired with better insulation and all that natural daylight coming through the skylights, the space is comfortable and usable right through the year.
Where it ended up
It’s hard to imagine now that this space was sitting empty. It’s become a proper part of daily life. Somewhere to work, somewhere to train, somewhere to properly switch off. The barn hasn’t just been converted. It’s been given an entirely new purpose.