Holiday home The Balancing Barn

There are holiday homes that you book simply because you need some­where to sleep whilst tra­velling. And then there are those that are the desti­nation in them­selves. The legendary Pineapple House in Scotland is one such example – a pineapple-shaped garden pavilion dating from 1761. Or Haus Schminke by Hans Scharoun. However, neither of these buil­dings was intended as a holiday home. A few years ago, the phi­lo­sopher Alain de Botton con­cluded that such iconic struc­tures should also be created in the modern era – but spe­ci­fi­cally and from the outset as holiday homes. And that is why he launched ‘Living Archi­tecture’.

For the first project, de Botton approached MVRDV in Rot­terdam. And he received a ‘yes’ in response – spe­ci­fi­cally in the form of a design for a ‘Balancing Barn’. And indeed, this house, which accom­mo­dates up to eight people, offers more than just a roof over one’s head. It is a reflection on building, living and tra­velling. To achieve this, architect Winy Maas com­bined Dutch daring with English humour – and described the floating retreat as a kind of gift from the Net­her­lands to the East of England.

Viewed from a distance and from the front: a typical local barn with a gabled roof and familiar pro­por­tions. But you soon realise that some­thing isn’t quite right here, as the façade con­sists of reflective metal shingles in the shape of Metro Tiles, in which the land­scape doesn’t quite dis­appear, but almost. Viewed from the side: half of the 30-metre-long house hovers freely over the pre­cipice. A full fifteen metres of overhang and nothing beneath it.

Right by the ent­rance, in the kitchen, you’re on solid ground. A long cor­ridor leads to the four bed­rooms. At the very end is the living room. Here, the place of rela­xation becomes a place of daring: where a carpet would usually lie, there is a large glass panel, and your gaze falls into the abyss.

Studio Makkink & Bey, also based in Rot­terdam, are respon­sible for the interior design. They draw inspi­ration from the works of Suffolk’s two most renowned land­scape painters – Constable and Gains­bo­rough – and bring their pain­tings back to the walls: in a decon­s­tructed form and thus, in a sense, in a very Dutch style.

At the end of the can­ti­lever – the perfect spot to reflect on it all – hangs what is arguably the most unusual swing in the British Isles – and the one that evokes the most emotion. Those brave enough to try it swing out into the land­scape and ponder archi­tecture, living and travel, just as the house itself does.

What to do

Swimming in the sea. Visiting English gardens. Discovering medieval architecture. The area is ideal for walking and cycling. You can take the train for a day trip to London.

Why we like this house

Because it’s an icon that shows how architecture can evoke strong emotions.

This house is great for

Groups of friends or several families.

Sustainability

The house is highly insulated, heated by a ground-source heat pump and ventilated via a heat recovery system; the central concrete core also acts as thermal mass. Access by train and bike is possible – Halesworth station is seven kilometres away, as is the nearest shop.

Details

Availability calendar

The calendar shows the current availability of the accommodation. On days with white background the accommodation is still available. On days with dark gray background the accommodation is not available.

Request/Booking