In Suffolk, Norm Architects’ Pavilion House aims for a transparent design with big windows that blur the boundaries between interior and exterior. The house consists of two main volumes – one of which was pre-existing – accompanied by an old barn with technical installations.

The new building, more than 30 metres long, rests on a dark basalt podium; the steel load-bearing structure has been reduced to a minimum to allow for the realisation of a ribbon of windows. The local larch cladding harmonises the two wings of the residence, joined by an L-shaped room with a grand piano and study area.

The old building, more closed, has been used as a sleeping area, while the contemporary part is an open space with the living room, dining area and kitchenette. Separating the rooms is a curtain, which on the one hand creates a niche for the woodburning stove, on the other acts as a support for the worktop and kitchen furniture. The neutral colour palette and completely white walls help to showcase the views of the green meadows and fields that embrace the house. The former agricultural infrastructure, which originally measured more than five thousand square metres, has been appropriately resized and transformed into the ‘green heart’ of the house. Inside are systems for storing the energy produced by the panels on the roof and drums for collecting and reusing rainwater.

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