Beyond the brief
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Words by Hannah Tapping
The thoughtful impact of positive design.
Barc Architects approaches every project as a careful response to both the people who will inhabit a building and the landscape that surrounds it. From contemporary coastal homes to ambitious conversions, their work combines thoughtful design, environmental responsibility and a deep understanding of how architecture can enrich everyday life.
Can you walk us through how a project begins, from that very first conversation with a client?
It begins with listening. From the first meeting, we are trying to understand how our clients live, what matters to them and what they truly need from their home. We establish the brief, assess the site, planning policy and practical considerations, then produce a report that helps clients understand the process ahead.
We then develop initial design options, using those early conversations to test ideas and refine priorities. Once a preferred design emerges, we introduce budget discussions to ensure the brief and costs align. From there, we move through planning, technical design, contractor selection, construction and snagging, staying involved until the client is happy with the finished building.
Your work spans the South West, one of the most scenically dramatic and environmentally sensitive landscapes in the country. Whether it’s a clifftop, an estuary or a valley, how does the landscape shape a project and do you feel it is a collaborator?
Absolutely. We are always sensitive to the landscape and try to create architecture that sits quietly within its surroundings.
Sanctuary House is a good example, where natural materials, landscaped bunds and wildflower planting allow the building to blend into its setting. In contrast, a clifftop project in the west of Ireland required a different response. We argued successfully for dark corrugated cladding because it reflected the surrounding heather and allowed the building to recede into the landscape.
Working with the landscape rather than against it is always a huge consideration.
Sustainability sits at the heart of your philosophy, from fabric-first construction to Passivhaus standards. How do you make sure that conversation feel exciting and aspirational for clients, rather than a list of technical constraints?
We focus on comfort. A sustainable home is generally far more comfortable than an unsustainable one, which makes the conversation much easier.
The fabric of the building influences temperature, air quality and overall wellbeing. Good insulation, ventilation and acoustic performance all improve daily life while reducing environmental impact. We are also increasingly focused on embodied carbon and the use of natural materials.
Planning policy is moving in the same direction, so these considerations are becoming essential. The challenge is balancing sustainability with budget, but that is where the craft lies, and it is genuinely exciting.
Projects such as The Reservoir, The Hatchery and Sanctuary House suggest a strong sense of narrative and place in your work. How do individual projects find their identity? Does it emerge from the site, the client, or somewhere in between?
Very much from both. Every project is bespoke to its client and setting, so the process is about understanding the sense of place and weaving in the aspirations of the people who will live there.
That sense of excitement is important. Building a home is a long process, and clients need to feel that moment of certainty before moving forward.
The Reservoir reflected a client with a wonderful sense of humour, while The Hatchery grew from the character of a former sea urchin facility and a close collaboration with the client. Each project earns its own identity.
Glazing, and the relationship between inside and out, appears repeatedly across your portfolio. What is it about that threshold, the moment a room opens to the landscape, that you find architecturally compelling?
We are lucky to build in beautiful places, so our aim is often to let the landscape become the focus rather than the building itself.
We blur the threshold between inside and out through level access, carefully chosen materials and large areas of glazing. The result is a stronger connection to nature and a greater sense of place.
Glazing can also frame views in a very deliberate way. Small adjustments to a window opening or reveal can capture a particular aspect of the landscape and create moments of joy that clients may only fully appreciate once they experience them.
Luxury can mean many things: grandeur, restraint, materiality, light. What does genuine luxury mean to Barc, and how does it differ from simply expensive?
For us, luxury is about creating a home that is tailored entirely to the people who live in it. Every family has different priorities, and designing around those needs is a genuine luxury.
We think carefully about how a home will function both now and in the future, particularly if it is intended to be a forever home. Accessibility and adaptability are often considered from the outset.
Luxury is also about knowing where investment matters. Experience teaches you which materials and products justify the cost. It is not about spending more; it is about spending wisely.
Building biology and the use of natural materials are becoming increasingly important considerations in contemporary home design. What drew you to that approach, and how do those choices influence the health, comfort and long-term performance of the homes you create?
Fabric-first is really about comfort. It ensures a home remains warm in winter, cool in summer and pleasant to live in throughout the year.
We are continually learning more about how materials perform. Natural materials such as wood fibre insulation can help regulate temperature and improve indoor comfort, while breathable construction methods can enhance air quality.
Ventilation is equally important. Systems such as mechanical ventilation with heat recovery provide fresh, filtered air while retaining warmth. It is about making all the elements work together to create a healthier and more enjoyable home.
The South West has attracted a new wave of people relocating, building and investing in exceptional homes. What are the most interesting briefs arriving at Barc right now, and what do they tell you about how people want to live?
Over the last few years there has been a real influx of people moving to the South West in search of a stronger connection to nature and a different pace of life.
Many briefs focus on adaptable spaces, entertaining family and friends, and making the most of the outdoors. We often work with people approaching retirement, buying second homes or planning a permanent move.
Accessibility, landscape design and indoor-outdoor living feature strongly. Ultimately, people are moving here to enjoy the environment, and our role is to ensure their home supports the life they came here for.
Architecture at this level is an intensely collaborative and personal process. What makes a great client relationship, and is there a project that stands out as a moment where that collaboration produced something neither party could have arrived at alone?
It is a very collaborative process, and the strongest projects emerge from strong relationships. The better we understand our clients, the easier it becomes to create something that truly reflects them.
A good example is Lyme Bay View. The client, Clare, is a garden designer with a wonderful eye for interiors, and we worked closely together, along with the builder, to create a seamless relationship between house and garden.
The shared vision and willingness to be bold resulted in a home that was recently shortlisted for a RIBA award, which felt like a testament to the collaboration.
If you could design any building, for any site in the world, with no constraints whatsoever, what would it be, and why?
It would almost certainly be somewhere rural, either coastal or set within a forested, mountainous landscape. What interests us most is responding sensitively to nature and creating architecture that enhances rather than dominates its surroundings.
There can be a perception that building in remarkable places inevitably harms them, but I believe thoughtful design can contribute positively through planting, biodiversity and careful integration with the landscape.
In truth, it would probably still be in the South West. We are fortunate to work in a region we genuinely love, and every project introduces us to somewhere new and unexpected.
