Inchree Barn
Redeveloping a derelict 18th century barn for community use
Inchree Barn | Nether Lochaber Community Council
Inchree
The Nether Lochaber Community Association is a local, voluntary association set up with the aim of improving the local area for the benefit of those who live there. A Steering Group was formed to focus on redeveloping the old barn at Inchree. Inchree is a small hamlet which forms part of a bigger village settlement along with Onich and North Ballachulish. The barn stands at the head of Inchree, next to existing parking for the woodland walks.
INCH were tasked with developing the brief prepared by Community Links Scotland to form a new community hub building which will offer opportunities for the community to gather and meet, and facilities for a greater range of activities. The plans have been developed to maximise the main hall to make the most of the community space.
The project offered the opportunity to explore the relationship between an old historic structure and a new contemporary extension. The proposal looks to enhance the existing structure and promote this as the principal space and feature of the site. The extension takes a more subservient role housing ancillary accommodation. The form of the existing barn is celebrated and repeated within the extension with a link piece filling the gap between the two forms.
The proposals aim to create a community space which offers a sense of place to the community and provides flexible, useable space which can be utilised for a variety of functions. Its location and surroundings will allow the building to flourish and enhance the links between the local woodland and the community provision.
