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​This project focused on the adaptive reuse of a cluster of dilapidated Nissen huts, originally built for the manufacture of flame-thrower tanks during WWII. The proposal sought to restore and reinterpret these structures through the creation of individual dwellings and an open-air museum — a historic trail following the original hardstanding through the surrounding woodland, once used for tank parking and testing.

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The project presented significant challenges from both legislative and ecological perspectives. The site lay within a region of highly sensitive habitats, where stringent environmental regulations and biodiversity protections had brought many comparable applications to a standstill. The initial planning application was refused amid a period of widespread rejections in the area, reflecting an increasingly cautious planning climate.

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At appeal, however, the design approach was praised for its balance between preservation and renewal. The corroded cladding was to be carefully restored, with replacement limited to areas beyond repair, using perforated corten steel to retain the site’s industrial character. Within each hut, modular construction allowed for the insertion of lightweight, fully insulated residential units that preserved the external forms while achieving modern standards of comfort and efficiency.

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A biophilic design strategy introduced shade-tolerant planting between the retained outer shells and the new modular interiors, creating a living interface between architecture and landscape. Domestic garden spaces were arranged to respect the existing trees, and all new surfaces were designed to be permeable, reducing surface-water runoff and maintaining the site’s natural hydrology.

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Beyond the architectural intervention, the project’s greatest value lay in its cultural vision: the creation of a publicly accessible historic trail and central exhibition space that allowed visitors to engage with the site’s wartime legacy. This was achieved without erasing its patina or atmosphere — preserving the dilapidated forms and the profound sense of place that defines this unique landscape.

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as Associate at Arcady Architects.