With massing straddling above and below the 78 acres of farmland, the project balances the need for expansion with the desire to respect the view from the main road and the vernacular of the county. Traditional buildings including a 1860s Main House, a Carriage House, a Red Barn and a Sheep Shed are preserved. The back portion of the Main House which was a later addition is removed and its northern portion is extended with a two-storey construction. The courtyard level is organizing around a sunken courtyard prioritizing sunset views and smell of the apple orchards.
To meet the growing demand for resort facilities in the county, the project adds 16 rooms, a spa and an outdoor pool. The Main House operates as a bed and breakfast and home for the owners. The Carriage House, once operating as a summer kitchen, includes two additional suites. The preserved structures and surrounding landscape host weddings and community events including the Wellington Farmers’ Market, theatre performances and art.
The exterior design takes inspiration from the existing materials and techniques and reinterprets them through new technologies and high sustainability targets. Bricks and stones removed from the Main House are reused in the landscape features. Vertical barn cladding technique is reimagined for the addition. The dry stack stone technique is repeated for the courtyard-level façade. Refurbished doors sourced through a local company are used for the interiors.
