VIEWPOINT
Viewpoint
@ threeacrebarn
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Making the most of temporary living
Programme manager by day and an architectural designer by night, Ade Sosanya and his family are awaiting planning permission for an inspirational self-build project in the Kentish countryside. A family of four, the Sosanyas moved from East London to the picturesque ‘garden of England’, and after five years of renting a property to learn from the area, Ade and his wife, Ola, purchased a plot for the eventual construction of a contemporary barn-style self-build.
W
hile the family awaits planning permission for their build, they’re temporarily living in two 40ft shipping containers. Having lived on-site for two years so far, the family have truly put their own stamp on the temporary accommodation. With ultramodern interiors and a cosy aesthetic, the fully-insulated shipping containers are a true sample of what’s to come from this creative family. Here, i-Build’s Editor, Rebecca Kemp, talks to Ade about the family's current accommodation and plans for the ambitious build.
RK: Please tell us a bit about your grand self-build project. AS: We are proposing to transform a
derelict 18th-century barn we bought in 2017 – within a farmstead – into a contemporary home incorporating traditional and modern features. After we decided to follow our dream of building our own house, it took three years of searching to secure the plot. It didn’t take so long because there were no building plots for sale in the open market, it’s because the plots that ticked all our boxes were twice our budget. I-B U I L D/ F E B/21
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Like the saying goes, use what you have to get what you want. Since our land budget could not buy our dream plot in the open market, we decided to get creative. Any time I was driving across the area, I’d always look out for potential land. I also used Google Earth to spot redundant land that may be available for sale. On identifying a potential plot, I would write letters to the owners introducing myself and ask whether they were interested in selling the land or part of their farm. After over 100 letters and many nos, we got one maybe and eventually a yes! We got our dream plot on a budget. The journey has been that of dream, hope, uncertainty, despair, disappointment, frustration and renewed hope. However, one thing has remained constant throughout the frustration of waiting to secure planning permission to transform the derelict barn into an incredible contemporary eco-barn - our determination and resilience to build. We are committed to secure the future of this barn for another generation.
RK: Please tell us more about the plot. AS: The land is about an acre with a derelict barn within a small farmstead. We have a fantastic far-reaching countryside view to the north, east and south of the plot and we hope to maximise these views in our proposal to rebuild the structure.
