Pensthorpe Play Barn, Fakenham Indoor Centre, Norfolk Property, East Anglian Building
Pensthorpe Play Barn, Fakenham
Indoor Play Centre in Norfolk: East Anglia Architecture, South East England, UK – design by Adam Khan Architects
10 Jan 2017
Pensthorpe Play Barn in Fakenham
Design: Adam Khan Architects
Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, East Anglia, South East England, United Kingdom
Pensthorpe Play Barn, Norfolk
The Play Barn reinvents the familiar yet despised typology of indoor play centre, bringing sensory and haptic delight, user comfort, and a deep sustainability based on adaptability and environmental performance. Lessons drawn from agricultural and industrial vernacular inform both the architectural strategy and a sensitive place-making. Photos © Lewis Khan

Pensthorpe Wildlife Reserve integrates nature conservation with inspiring young people to care for the natural environment, through a strategy of adventurous play. The Play Barn reinvents the indoor play centre, bringing sensory and haptic delight through a connection to nature.

The project is part of a wider masterplan to bring coherence to the reserve. While greater in scale than the existing buildings, the siting of the building extends the loose matrix of existing courtyards, and the form adds to the rich roof-scape of the ensemble. Through the simple device of cutting holes, the cedar cladding develops an ornamental skin and offers potential for nesting habitat.

Key challenges were to deliver a large, h...