Balancing Barn Offers Cantilevered Rental Home in the English Countryside

Two years ago, Dutch firm MVRDV was commissioned by Living Architecture, a British organization that promoted the exposure of modern architecture to the general public via holiday rentals. Half of the 30-meter building, located in Suffolk, is suspended in mid-air cantilevered over a steep slope. Because of the slop, from the inside, it seems as though you’re on ground level and tree-height at the same time.

With 50% of the structure cantilevering over a sharp slope, intelligent design was a key factor in this project to keep the Barn stable yet expressive. Balancing on a central concrete core, the section that sits on the ground is constructed from heavier materials than the cantilevered section. The surrounding natural landscape slopes with the hillside drop, meaning that the visitor finds themselves both at ground and tree level simultaneously. A swing has been installed at the very end of the suspended mass, incorporating an element of whimsy to an already playful abode.   

Capable of hosting a total of eight visitors in its four double bedrooms, the surprisingly spacious interior has been carefully designed by Studio Makkini & Bey who created a unique range of furnishings specifically tailored to the design concept using neutral, classic timber as a base material.

To rent the Balancing Barn, click here.