The Chicken Shed, near Trellech

Why we love it

Not every character home is centuries old. The Chicken Shed proves that character can come from imagination just as much as from age. The site was once home to a simple timber poultry shed, and when Hall + Bednarczyk Architects transformed it, they kept the shape and footprint of the original building and its no-nonsense agricultural spirit. Dark timber cladding, a corrugated roof and concrete floors nod to its farmyard past, while inside everything is light, warm and beautifully considered.

The design has been widely recognised, winning a RIBA regional award for small project of the year and an award from the Royal Society of Architects in Wales. It's a rare chance to own a piece of contemporary Welsh architecture in a truly lovely spot.

One important point: The Chicken Shed has a planning restriction limiting it to holiday use, so it cannot be anyone's main home. It has been run as a successful holiday let for more than a decade, which makes it a compelling option for someone looking for a retreat of their own that also earns its keep.

Inside

A cedar front door opens into an entrance hall with room for boots and coats, and from there the space opens up dramatically. The main living area runs the length of the building under a double-height vaulted ceiling, with alternating natural and green-painted roof trusses giving it a distinctive rhythm. A wall of glass runs along one side, opening onto a terrace with long views towards the Sugar Loaf and the Black Mountains.

The open-plan space is cleverly divided into zones. There is a sitting area around a Jotul wood burner, a separate snug with glass on three sides, a dining area with built-in bench seating, and a sleek Bulthaup kitchen. Underfloor heating, powered by an air source heat pump, keeps it all comfortable, and there is a separate utility room.

There are four bedrooms, each with a view of the countryside. The principal bedroom has an en suite and a sliding door onto the terrace, and the second bedroom also has an en suite and terrace access. The remaining two bedrooms share a bathroom with both a bath and a separate shower.

Outside

A private drive leads up to the house, with parking for several cars and an electric vehicle charging point. A stone terrace runs along the front of the building, perfect for taking in the panorama. The garden mixes level lawn with steeper areas of grass and woodland, and a paddock of around an acre and a half stretches away behind. There's a log store by the front door.

The setting

Trellech is a peaceful village on the high plateau above the Wye Valley, with a primary school and a 16th-century pub. The area is a gift for walkers, with Beacon Hill, Parkhouse Wood, the Wye Valley Walk and Offa's Dyke Path all close by, and Tintern Abbey is only a short drive away. Food lovers are spoilt too, with several of the area's best-known restaurants within easy reach. Monmouth is close by for shopping, and Chepstow station and the Severn crossings bring Bristol within about 25 miles.