Case study: Sparrows Nest

VELFAC windows and doors were pivotal in realising the renovation concept for a 500-year-old barn in the Norfolk countryside.

When architect Juliet Moore and her husband, Ian Isaacs, came across Sparrow Green Farm in 2022, they knew it was where they wanted to put down roots.

Juliet had spent 27 years running a successful architecture practice in Melbourne, Australia, when family ill-health and the COVID pandemic brought her back to Europe, initially to the Netherlands, where she met her husband, and then back to England. The move prompted a lifestyle rethink and a recognition that they wanted a more sustainable, slower pace of life. Finding a property that would enable them to realise these goals was key.

“We wanted to find a property that would suit the next stage of our lives,” explains Juliet, “When we found Sparrow Green Farm, we knew it had the potential to fulfil everything we were looking for. It’s the culmination of our dream to live closer to the land.”

Bringing new life to a derelict barn

The 16^th century farmhouse is set among four and a half acres of orchards and gardens in the north Norfolk countryside. Alongside the traditional red brick and flint farmhouse were dilapidated outbuildings that Juliet could see had heaps of potential.

With a frontage that opened onto an old rose garden, Juliet recognised that the old, tumbledown barn – now known as Sparrows Nest – would make wonderful holiday accommodation.

After a lengthy planning process while they sought to prove nutrient neutrality, the once tumble-down barn has been sympathetically transformed. It is now a warm, two-bedroomed holiday let that fills with natural light through the expansive, seven-metre-wide, glazed wall to the front.

Using VELFAC glazing to maximise the connection between indoors and out

“This conversion was all about the view onto the rose garden. It’s a really magical spot and getting the interface right was critical to maximising the connection between the inside and the outside and letting in as much light as possible. Choosing VELFAC windows and doors was integral to our success in achieving those goals,” says Juliet.

Minimising the environmental impact of a renovation

It was important to Juliet to minimise the environmental impact of the development, both during the build and in its ongoing use.

With that in mind, the interiors have been kept purposely pared back. The oak trusses in the double-height living space have been left exposed and oiled, while walls are finished simply with plaster and oak panelling. The kitchen has also been handcrafted in oak by a local joiner. In fact, all the trades Juliet used were local – including VELFAC distributor okoHaus – helping to support the local economy and minimise the carbon impact of road miles.

Part of Juliet’s vision for her family’s new life at Sparrow Green Farm is to be as off-grid as possible. To achieve this, she has installed 27 solar panels, battery storage, air source heat pumps, underfloor heating, a water treatment plant with UV filter that enables them to use water from a bore hole and replace the existing septic system.

VELFAC triple glazed windows combine thermal efficiency and beautiful design

Triple glazing has been used throughout. Its use was especially important in minimising heat loss through the glazed wall, and to reduce solar gain as a result of the site’s south-facing aspect. “It’s one of the main reasons I opted for VELFAC windows and doors,” explains Juliet, “they combine incredible thermal efficiency with beautiful design.”

How VELFAC composite frames complement old and new architecture

The clean lines and composite frames of VELFAC windows and doors are the perfect complement to the barn’s blend of old and new. The external aluminium frames are powder coated in a rich olive green that contrasts beautifully with the blacked timber cladding of the barn and the adjacent historic red brick wall. The timber internal frames, painted white, are a continuation of the natural materials used throughout the barn.

The glazed wall comprises two, large-format fixed windows, one with a sliding panel and one with a hinged entry door. Light floods the downstairs open plan living and kitchen area and the mezzanine bedroom. A further double bedroom on the ground floor features a VELFAC top-hung casement window.

Juliet’s advice for anyone considering taking on a renovation?

“Be prepared! Pulling together as much information and detail right at the beginning will help ensure a smoother planning process.

“As for the building process, I’d advise being sympathetic to what is already there. Don’t fight it. Work to keep as much of the existing fabric as you can, and don’t be afraid to mix old with new. As well as being more sustainable, it can make for a more interesting result. It worked beautifully for us: VELFAC windows are contemporary in style, but their slim profile combined with the option to choose from a huge colour palette means they work with practically and style of architecture – they look perfect with our 500-year-old barn.”

Sparrow’s Nest is available to book via cottages.com