Blue Sky Barn is a fascinating conversion of a disused barn into a four-bedroom family home. Situated on a farm in Norfolk, architects 31/44 have used form and materials to preserve the memory of the original agricultural structure in order to create a stunning new residential and leisure environment with enhanced levels of comfort and refinement. Troldtekt’s wood wool panelling features to combat and soften elevated noise levels.
The house presents a quiet façade of corrugated metal walls and roof with vertical larch louvres. It is characterised by a calm restrained exterior and playful interior volumes, created on two floors within the 450 square metre footprint of the original barn.
The interior design fulfils the wish of the owners to preserve the original raw and cavernous character while avoiding overtly domestic finishes. With such a large spacious interior, including a 15m long swimming pool, the architects needed to find a solution for reverberating sound and acoustic dampening. As a result, Troldtekt’s panelling has been used throughout the living and pool areas.
Troldtekt is a perfect choice for this kind of application. Consequently, Troldtekt Fine panels were specified for their sustainable characteristics coupled with superior acoustics to provide a comfortable interior environment.
Founded on the Cradle-to-Cradle design concept and recently attaining Gold certification, Troldtekt’s natural and inherently sustainable panels are available in a variety of different surfaces and colours and contribute positively to a building’s BREEAM, DGNB and LEED ratings. In addition to their high sound absorption and tactile surface, they offer high durability and low-cost lifecycle performance.
Available in various sizes and in four grades, from extreme fine to coarse, the panels can be left untreated or painted in virtually any RAL colour.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has announced that an additional £25M of funding will be allocated to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. This article features comment from James Chaplen, Head of Production at heat pump manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric…
Posted in Articles, Building Associations & Institutes, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Regulations & Accreditations, Building Services, Facility Management & Building Services, Heating Systems, Controls and Management, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning - HVAC, news, Pipes, Pipes & Fittings, Plumbing, Posts, Retrofit & Renovation, Sustainability & Energy EfficiencyHMG Paints, a leading manufacturer in the coatings industry, has been shortlisted for two prestigious awards at the National Family Business Awards 2025. HMG are finalists for the North and Northern Ireland Family Business of the Year award.
Posted in Articles, Awards, Building Industry Events, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Innovations & New Products, Interior Design & Construction, Interiors, Paints, Paints, Coatings & Finishes, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Sustainability & Energy EfficiencyTo help with the design of low and zero-carbon buildings, leading ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia has completed its embodied carbon calculations on its product portfolio.
Posted in Air Conditioning, Articles, Building Associations & Institutes, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Services, Facility Management & Building Services, Heating Systems, Controls and Management, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning - HVAC, Posts, Research & Materials Testing, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Sustainability & Energy EfficiencyThe latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report shows builders’ merchants’ value sales in November were down -4.6% compared to the same month in 2023.
Posted in Articles, Bricks & Blocks, Building Associations & Institutes, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Services, Civil Engineering, Concrete, Cement, Admixtures, Hand Tools, Hard Landscaping & Walkways, Health & Safety, Information Technology, Innovations & New Products, Interior Design & Construction, Interiors, Landscaping, news, Paints, Paints, Coatings & Finishes, Plant, Equipment and Hire, Power Tools, Publications, Research & Materials Testing, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Sustainability & Energy Efficiency