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Old House And Barn Transition Into A Modern Family Home

By Simona Ganea | Published on

Originally built in the 1930s, this family house actually used to be a trio of buildings. There was the main residence, barn and stable and each went through changes, some more drastic than others. Architecture studio László Papp – plémühely was in charge of the transformation and they completed the project in 2017.

This is the structure that used to be the main residence, now converted into a private quartersView in gallery
This is the structure that used to be the main residence, now converted into a private quarters

The original residence was preserved but its layout was modified a bit becoming more practical and more in tone with the requirements of the owners, with some minor interior design changes and facade updates. The barn was converted into a social area and now houses the living room, kitchen and dining area. It resembles an A-frame cabin. The stable was demolished and in its place, there’s now an extension which contains the entrance and atrium.

All the living spaces have been relocated into the structure that used to be the barnView in gallery
All the living spaces have been relocated into the structure that used to be the barn
The interior design of the house and barn have been rejuvenated and the internal layout has been adjustedView in gallery
The interior design of the house and barn have been rejuvenated and the internal layout has been adjusted
The entire property got a general refresh and both the design and ambiance changed View in gallery
The entire property got a general refresh and both the design and ambiance changed
The exterior of the house and barn has changed too, now the facades looking more simple and freshView in gallery
The exterior of the house and barn has changed too, now the facades looking more simple and fresh

One of the main objectives of this project was to make all these changes with as little impact on the original structure as possible. Of course, some changes were inevitable such as the restoration of the street-facing facades, the refurbishment of the roof, the addition of new heat insulation and certain interior design modifications.

Even though this entire property went through some major changes, a lot of its original character has been preservedView in gallery
Even though this entire property went through some major changes, a lot of its original character has been preserved
A small deck extends the living area into the backyard, sitting perpendicularly to the main floor planView in gallery
A small deck extends the living area into the backyard, sitting perpendicularly to the main floor plan

The original house became a night zone, containing three bedrooms and their bathrooms. The entire living area was moved into the barn which is new an extension of the house but also its own individual structure. The new layout and design are refreshing, more functional and better suited for a modern lifestyle.

The architects tried to make this transition from old to new as seamless and as natural as possible, hence the preservation of certain elementsView in gallery
The architects tried to make this transition from old to new as seamless and as natural as possible, hence the preservation of certain elements
The landscape was refreshed too but it remains infused with the charm of the old daysView in gallery
The landscape was refreshed too but it remains infused with the charm of the old days
The wood cladding gives the house a certain rustic flair while also giving out a modern vibeView in gallery
The wood cladding gives the house a certain rustic flair while also giving out a modern vibe
The redesigned layout increases the overall functionality of the house but also gives it an updated lookView in gallery
The redesigned layout increases the overall functionality of the house but also gives it an updated look
The kitchen is tucked into a nook but remains a part of the open floor planView in gallery
The kitchen is tucked into a nook but remains a part of the open floor plan
The materials used throughout this project are simple and carefully selected to match the desired lookView in gallery
The materials used throughout this project are simple and carefully selected to match the desired look