This former chicken shed has been transformed into a beautiful contemporary home
This former chicken shed has been converted into a contemporary house in Wales: polished concrete, cedar wood, bay windows
The former chicken shed had nothing going for it, except perhaps its location and breathtaking views. Typical of agricultural buildings, it had a corrugated metal roof, a dirt floor, and rotting wooden walls. Yet it is precisely this dilapidated structure, perched on a plateau in Monmouthshire, Wales, that has become one of Wales’s most talked-about architectural transformations. Architect Martin Hall, who oversaw the renovation, transformed this “hopeless case” into a bright, family-friendly contemporary home.
From the outside, the low, elongated silhouette still evokes the original agricultural building. The wood, the metal-profiled roof, and the horizontal proportions give it a look reminiscent of regional farm buildings. The architect, in collaboration with Kelly Bednarczyk, opted for raw materials in their most direct form: cedar, steel, concrete, and glass.
As soon as you push open the door, you enter a minimalist, design-driven space. Its polished concrete floor captures and reflects light. The massive floor-to-ceiling windows bring the Welsh countryside inside, as if the meadows were part of the decor.
The main living area is open-plan. No partitions. Just distinct zones that flow naturally into one another: kitchen, dining table for eight, sitting area around the stove, lounge area with a large sofa. The walls are clad in white-painted cedar. It’s the same type of wood used on the exterior.
Sue and Nick Peacock, the owners, chose to have everything custom-made. The oak beds, the benches, the large dining table, everything comes from the workshops of Barnby Design, a cabinetmaker in Hay-on-Wye, a neighboring town. The blankets on the beds are antique Welsh blankets, sourced locally. A few colorful Scandinavian pieces punctuate the space without overwhelming it. Art chosen for the walls, the books on the shelves, all speak to the region and the owners’ love for this country.
The view from the floor-to-ceiling windows stretches across the hills of Monmouthshire and the Wye Valley. This panorama is not a bonus; it is the central focus of the entire project, the very reason that justified the long months of construction. The architects oriented the large glass openings to make the most of it. Outside, a stone terrace runs the entire length of the facade. Its garden opens onto a vast meadow, designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
![living room concrete floor bay windows contemporary house in Wales "The chicken shed"](https://planete-deco.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AN2-1.jpg "living room concrete floor bay windows contemporary house in Wales "The chicken shed"")
![living room concrete floor bay windows contemporary house in Wales "The chicken shed"](https://planete-deco.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AN3-1.jpg "living room concrete floor bay windows contemporary house in Wales "The chicken shed"")
![stove in living room concrete floor bay windows contemporary house in Wales "The chicken shed"](https://planete-deco.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AN4-3.jpg "stove in living room concrete floor bay windows contemporary house in Wales "The chicken shed"")
![open kitchen and living room concrete floor bay windows contemporary house in Wales "The chicken shed"](https://planete-deco.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AN5-2.jpg "open kitchen and living room concrete floor bay windows contemporary house in Wales "The chicken shed"")
This former chicken shed converted into a contemporary home in Wales is for sale at The Modern House
The Chicken Shed doesn’t hide its origins
From the outside, the low, elongated silhouette still evokes the original agricultural building. The wood, the metal-profiled roof, and the horizontal proportions give it a look reminiscent of regional farm buildings. The architect, in collaboration with Kelly Bednarczyk, opted for raw materials in their most direct form: cedar, steel, concrete, and glass.
In the interior: a lesson in warm minimalism
As soon as you push open the door, you enter a minimalist, design-driven space. Its polished concrete floor captures and reflects light. The massive floor-to-ceiling windows bring the Welsh countryside inside, as if the meadows were part of the decor.
The main living area is open-plan. No partitions. Just distinct zones that flow naturally into one another: kitchen, dining table for eight, sitting area around the stove, lounge area with a large sofa. The walls are clad in white-painted cedar. It’s the same type of wood used on the exterior.
The furniture: custom-made and rooted in the local area
Sue and Nick Peacock, the owners, chose to have everything custom-made. The oak beds, the benches, the large dining table, everything comes from the workshops of Barnby Design, a cabinetmaker in Hay-on-Wye, a neighboring town. The blankets on the beds are antique Welsh blankets, sourced locally. A few colorful Scandinavian pieces punctuate the space without overwhelming it. Art chosen for the walls, the books on the shelves, all speak to the region and the owners’ love for this country.
The setting: an exceptional site integrated into the design
The view from the floor-to-ceiling windows stretches across the hills of Monmouthshire and the Wye Valley. This panorama is not a bonus; it is the central focus of the entire project, the very reason that justified the long months of construction. The architects oriented the large glass openings to make the most of it. Outside, a stone terrace runs the entire length of the facade. Its garden opens onto a vast meadow, designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
This former chicken shed converted into a contemporary home in Wales is for sale at The Modern House
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