Patrick Bradley Architects has breathed new life into the landscape of a 200-year-old farm in Northern Ireland by integrating a cantilevered shipping container into the stone ruins of an old cottage. The project, named Barneys Ruins after the founder’s great-great uncle from whom Patrick Bradley Architects’ founder inherited the land, strikes a balance between preserving the history of the site and updating it for modern living with a strong contemporary edge to the design. The ‘clachan’, as these traditional small-holding settlements are known in Ireland, has been revived with the addition of the shipping container, which was assembled offsite, winched into place, and fixed among the stones.
The container sits on steel columns within the original cottage footprint, featuring an open-plan kitchen, dining space, bathroom, and bedroom, its interior showcasing a minimalist design that pairs plywood joinery with terrazzo flooring. Large sliding doors open onto a balcony and a picture window frames the rewilded meadow surrounding the home. In the spirit of repurposing, the studio utilized existing materials, such as old gates, agricultural cladding, and reclaimed stones. A neighboring annex was built out of a converted barn and maintains much of its original features, with internal updates in the shape of a concrete fireplace and a cozy mezzanine sleeping area for guests.
Having transformed the derelict site, Patrick Bradley Architects has created a functional, visually captivating home that honors its storied past.
Photography © Joe Laverty Photography