Project features

The project

Set in the Suffolk countryside, Abbot’s Hall is a remarkable transformation of a derelict farmstead into a contemporary rural residence. The site comprises a series of buildings ranging in age from the 14th century to the 1960s, including a five-aisle medieval barn, a steel portal frame grain shed, and a steel-framed grain silo.

Rather than focus on converting the listed barn, the project team leaned into the agricultural character of the site, embracing the raw forms and industrial heritage. Using Class Q permitted development rights, the site was repurposed into a unique residential setting, while retaining the spirit of its working past.

Goals

• Reuse existing structures with minimal intervention
  
• Retain agricultural identity and visual integrity
  
• Achieve passive house standards
  
• Ensure sensitive integration with the rural landscape
  
• Improve insulation and environmental performance using natural materials

Why Sisalwool?

With a clear aim to retain the agricultural identity of the buildings while meeting high energy and environmental standards, Sisalwool was a natural fit.

Sisalwool’s breathability was key, especially for a structure like the silo, where the original materials and form were to be respected. Its warm, natural finish also contributed to the aesthetic goals of the project, helping the new insertions feel considered rather than clinical.

Made from renewable plant fibres, Sisalwool supports a low-carbon, circular approach to construction. It not only reduces dependence on fossil-fuel-based materials but also contributes to long-term carbon savings.

Benefits

• Carbon reduction and environmental performance
  
• Warm, natural aesthetic
  
• Breathable, non-toxic and easy to install
  
• Made from reused and regenerative materials
  
• Supports rural industry and heritage
  

In the main silo structure, Sisalwool was friction-fitted between timber studs to create a breathable and efficient thermal envelope. From floor to a height of 1.7 m, the walls were lined with plywood. Above that, the Sisalwool insulation was left fully exposed, celebrated for its texture and tone, contributing a sense of comfort and softness to an otherwise robust, industrial space.

“The installation team found it easy to work with and appreciated the reduced dust and irritation compared to conventional materials. The result is a space that balances history and innovation, where traditional forms meet natural materials, and insulation becomes part of the design.”