# Timber-Framed Farmhouses This Renovated Farmhouse Accommodates a Young Family By Vasiliki Marapas | Published 2014-11-10 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/timber-frame-farmhouse References: [dezeen](http://www.dezeen.com/2014/11/10/a-zero-timber-frame-house-leighton-buzzard-england-barn-cow-shed/) & [a-zero](http://a-zero.co.uk/) London architecture studio A-Zero transformed a [former cow shed](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tractor-shed) into a [timber-frame farmhouse](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/balmoral-hillside-house) for a young family. The house is located in a rural site near Leighton Buzzard, England. The architects attempted to reuse as much of the original materials as possible, going as far as to use it as a starting point for their design. The new residence is more compact than the previous, taking up a mere two-thirds of the space the original occupied. The extra space was used to create a courtyard, which is shielded by the in-situ walls that face the north side of the site. The house is therefore accessed from the wind-protected north side, but glazed towards the south for optimal views. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.4/10 - Popularity: 67% | Activity: 58% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Sustainable Living Spaces:** The trend of building and renovating homes using sustainable and eco-friendly materials and reducing environmental impacts could lead to more demand for innovative construction solutions. - **Rural Retreats:** The trend of people moving to rural areas and investing in properties that offer privacy, tranquility and connection with nature creates new opportunities for architects and real estate developers. - **Smaller Footprints:** The trend of downsizing homes and choosing smaller, more efficient spaces could lead to more creative solutions for maximizing living areas. ### Who This Affects Most - **Architecture:** The architecture industry could innovate by creating more sustainable materials and construction techniques that reduce environmental impacts. - **Real Estate:** The real estate industry could capitalize on the trend of rural retreats by investing in properties that offer privacy, tranquility and connection with nature. - **Construction:** The construction industry could innovate by creating more efficient and cost-effective solutions for building sustainable and small living spaces. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Wales Farmhouse Renovations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/delfyd-farmhouse.md) - [Column-Framed Farm Houses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bury-gate-farm.md) - [Transformed Rural Timber Barns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fienile-n.md) - [Black-Timber Farmhouse Extensions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shadow-barn.md) - [Farm Architecture-Inspired Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/farmworkers-house.md) - [Converted Hybrid Studio Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cowshed.md) - [Historic Farmhouse Revivals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/joe-burns.md) - [Traditional Stone Farmhouse Extensions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/studio-bressan.md) - [Barn Home Transformations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bulls-barn.md)