Pantybara

Pantybara is the revival and reinterpretation of a traditional Welsh farmstead in Carmarthenshire, designed by Rural Office for the practice's principal, Niall Maxwell, his wife Helen, and their two sons. An earlier farmhouse on the site was much-altered, and had to be demolished as it was beyond repair following decades of poor maintenance. Almost all materials were re-used elsewhere - for instance tonnes of salvaged stone now form garden walls.

Departing from the former four-square structure, the new home adopts a triangular plan. This design provides shelter from the prevailing wind and opens up views across the valley below, with each elevation addressing a distinct garden: a courtyard to the north, terraces to the west, and a pond/woodland garden to the south. The front façade is a conceit, referencing the gentrified facades of Georgian farmhouses, and becoming evident when moving around the corner where a 45 degree cut reveals a smaller house behind.

The new build connects to a former milking parlour, now repurposed as a hall, guest wing, and utility spaces. Its elongated form echoes the traditional Welsh ty hir or longhouses, blending domestic and agricultural heritage. Interiors celebrate craftsmanship and vernacular details, including threshold markings to ward off evil spirits and woven fire surrounds referencing original bwthyn (bothy) wicker hoods. A sense of "buildings within a building" is created, where internal ceiling pitches vary to define spaces.