Nymans Gardens

West Sussex

The Riding House Cafe at Nymans Gardens (National Trust) concerned a barn conversion design and extension to form - creating a Cafe and Kitchen within the context of this Grade II* listed park, Conservation Area and AONB.

Working on the site of a fire in the old kitchen block our brief was to improve the catering facilities, by integrating the cafe and the toilets.

The Riding House was established as having the best accessibility and storage potential for National Trust equipment. Our inspiration was drawn from Oliver Messel, a stage and interior designer, whose family lived at the house from 1890. Honouring the theatricality of the place and how best to show this. The fish scale roof tiles have been nominated for the Sussex Heritage Trust award.

Barn during construction

Above: Extract of 1:50 model made of the barn to confirm the structure to be removed and to assess the potential for reuse.