Located within the Metropolitan Green Belt and a designated Site of Archaeological Interest, the new reception and administrative building at Merchant Taylor’s Prep School provides purpose designed facilities to replace the existing buildings which were unfit for purpose. The project also included the sensitive remodelling and connection to an adjacent Grade II listed barn.

In response to the wider archaeological site context, the form and materials of the new build element were chosen to complement and respond to the adjacent listed barn in a contemporary manner. Charred timber cladding to both the walls and roof, created a homogeneous, seamless form reinforced by the simplicity of the detailing with concealed building services.

The new building has been joined to the existing barn with a frameless glass link allowing views of the historic buildings beyond to be maintained. The internal reconfiguration of the listed barn has been carefully designed to be structurally independent to preserve the existing internal structure and to avoid concealing the historic fabric of the existing building.