Architect Designed Cantilevered Balancing Barn
- Near the Sea
- Village / Rural
- Internet Access
- Log Fire
- Beach nearby
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Golf nearby
- Horse Riding
- Walking
- Watersports
An extraordinary 30 metre long house in Thorington near the Suffolk Coast, clad in reflective steel tiles, and half of which is suspended in space over the hillside. One of our most unusual places to stay, this quirky accommodation can sleep up to eight people.
The Balancing Barn is located at the end of a tree-lined lane, on a site where farm buildings once stood. Designed by the Dutch practice MVRDV, the barn dramatically cantilevers over the landscape. The glass floor, walls and skylights all provide superb views over the woods, ponds and meadows of the neighbouring nature reserve.
Balancing Barn is perfectly situated for exploring Suffolk and its coastline. It is based is in Thorington, three miles from the Suffolk Heritage Coast. Surrounded by Wildlife Trust land, the barn and gardens sit in a beautiful natural landscape; with walking trails and traditional pubs nearby. Visit some of Suffolk's beautiful coastal towns & villages including Southwold, Walberswick, Thorpeness and Aldeburgh. The National Trust sites of Sutton Hoo, Orford Ness Nature Reserve and Dunwich Heath (great for bird and seal watching) are all nearby. Guests can hire bikes in Rendlesham Forest, go horse riding at North Manor Equestrian Centre, Crabbing in Walberswick, or a family day out to Easton Farm Park or Southwold Pier. There are also castles and abbeys to visit nearby, or local breweries to tour.
Getting There:
Detailed driving directions given on booking. The nearest railway stations - Darsham or Halesworth (both a 10 minute drive to Thorington). The nearest airport is Norwich (1 hour and 10 minute drive to Thorington). Stansted Airport is a 1 hour 50 minute drive to Thorington.
Nearest Airport:
Norwich
Nearest Train Station:
Darsham or Halesworth
Nearest Beach:
3 miles away
Nearest Shop:
Thorington
Interior Details
The house can sleep up to eight people in four ensuite double bedrooms, two of which can be made up as twins on request. Each of the bedrooms is furnished with handmade oak furniture. Two of the bedrooms have an in-bedroom bath as well as the ensuite bathroom. The bedrooms and bathrooms all have Egyptian cotton bed linen, hypo-allergenic pillows and duvets, hand and bath towels, and luxury body products. There is a large open plan kitchen diner at one end of the barn, connected to an equally generous sized sitting room at the other end. The kitchen is well equipped with all the necessary appliances and equipment provided by David Mellor. The large sitting room has a woodburner and the large windows are set into the floor, roof and walls, giving you a sense of being suspended in the air as you look out onto the garden and the nature reserve and sky beyond. The house has wifi, a TV (internet enabled - there’s no TV aerial reception), smart speaker and a library of books. Artwork in the house in collaboration with Colchester and Ipswich museum and Huntington Collection. The designers have created a simple palette of Ash lined walls and ceilings, and a series of bespoke canvases and carpets based on paintings by John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough are on display.
Exterior Details
The Barn is set in 6 acres of gardens and is surrounded by 138 acres of Suffolk Wildlife Trust land. There’s a large terrace, fire pit with seating area, planted areas, raised lawns, and hidden corners, perfect for reading or watching the natural world go by. There is a swing suspended at the far end of the 15 metre long cantilever underneath the house. EV car charger for guest use.
Conditions
Check in from 3pm, check out by 10am. One well behaved dog welcome for a small additional fee. Please note that due to the location the wifi and mobile signal can be intermittent and a constant connection / fast speed cannot be guaranteed. One load of logs for the woodburner provided, as well as an arrival pack with tea, coffee, milk etc. Please bring your own high chair and cot if travelling with infants.
Please note: Enquiries and bookings for this One Off Place are managed by one of our partner agents. Click on the enquiry button to be taken straight through to their website where you can check exact rates and availability, and make your booking. We aim to keep the property descriptions on One Off Places up to date, but please also check the copy on the partner website to ensure you’re seeing the most up to date information.
