The project, led by architect Mawson Kerr, had structural engineering input from the Narro Newcastle team, with contractor True North Construction rounding out the project team. The project combines the refurbishment of a traditional stone agricultural building with a contemporary new-build extension, unified through a carefully engineered glazed walkway.
A key structural challenge centred on integrating modern timber engineering with the retained form of the old farm building. The new extension is formed predominantly from a glulam timber frame, infilled to meet Passivhaus–standards (though not formally certified). This approach provided both architectural warmth and the structural capacity needed for the building’s large spans and extensive glazing.
The most striking element is the fully glazed front elevation of the single-storey extension. The client was keen to preserve an uninterrupted outlook to the surrounding countryside, meaning no vertical posts could intrude along the glazed façade. To achieve this, engineers designed a substantial glulam beam capable of carrying the roof and canopy loads while maintaining a completely column-free opening for the sliding doors beneath. Balancing the beam size, visual impact, and structural performance was a central engineering accomplishment.
The new glazed walkway, a Douglas Fir structure, is clad externally in a black steel profiled sheeting. Its lightweight form required precise detailing to connect to two very different building geometries while managing differential movement between the historic masonry and the new timber construction.
The Birks demonstrates how thoughtful structural engineering can enable ambitious architectural ideas while preserving the character of an existing rural building.
