Construction
Floor Plans
Location and Contact Info
About Patrick Bradley Architects
| Project | Barneys Ruins |
| Architect | Patrick Bradley Architects |
| Containers | One 40 ft |
| Location | Northern Ireland |
| Year | 2022 |
Local studio Patrick Bradley Architects has added a cantilevered shipping container to ruined walls on an old farm in Northern Ireland to create a contemporary house with an annexe.
Named Barneys Ruins, the project brings a traditional small-holding settlement in Mid Ulster, known as a clachan, to modern-day standards while preserving the 200-year-old ruins of its old cottage.
Patrick Bradley Architects' founder inherited the site from his great-great uncle Barney – after whom the project is named – and sought to revive it after years of deterioration.
With his studio, Patrick Bradley's goal was to celebrate the clachan's history while transforming it into a contemporary shipping container home, creating "a strong juxtaposition of old and new".
"The Bradleys have maintained a deep connection to their land over generations," Bradley told.
"Owning the land passed down from Barney has fostered not only an economic foundation but also a profound emotional tie – each generation has cultivated and cherished this land, nurturing a strong sense of belonging and identity rooted in their stewardship of the farms."
Barneys Ruins is accessed via a grated steel staircase that straddles one of the ruined walls. Alongside it, a former barn has been converted into a small annexe.
The living spaces are mostly housed in the shipping container, which was converted off-site and craned into position. It is supported by steel columns that sit within the original cottage footprint.
Inside, it contains an open-plan kitchen and dining space, a small bathroom and a double bedroom to the rear, all of which are finished with minimalist plywood joinery and terrazzo flooring. Below, the walls of the existing cottage enclose a utility room.
The shipping container was adapted to include large south-facing sliding doors that open onto a balcony, while a picture window frames a meadow that was rewilded to promote local biodiversity.
While repurposing the old ruins and a shipping container, the studio also prioritised existing materials where possible, including old gates, agricultural cladding and reclaimed stones.
"By seamlessly integrating into the original Irish Clachan, the new building serves as a storyteller, bridging the past and present into a cohesive narrative," said the studio.
"The clients envisioned a bold architectural statement that would starkly contrast the existing 200-year-old ruins whilst sustainability drove decisions to maximise energy efficiency and reduce the overall carbon footprint by reusing and recycling elements found on the farm," it continued.
Adjacent to Barneys Ruins, the former barn has been converted into a small annexe that features a concrete fireplace and chimney breast and a small mezzanine sleeping area for guests.
In contrast to the shipping container home's contemporary cantilevered structure, the annexe closely preserves the original character, with a galvanised corrugated steel roof that references its agricultural context.
Patrick Bradley Architects envisaged Barneys Ruins as a beacon in the landscape, referencing a mature Yew Tree that sits at the heart of the local town. Strips of LED are installed behind the cladding to create the appearance of the dwelling "floating" across the landscape at night.
"While the yew stands proudly at the heart townland, the project needed to reflect the same importance, with the approach that the building would glow at night at the very heart of the townland when the yew tree would not be visible," said the studio.
Description by architects
Barneys ruins is an old Irish Clachan located in the most tranquil corner of Patricks family farm, the very heart of the historic townland known as “Gortinure”.
The Clachan consists of a cottage, slowly extended over time with an adjacent small outbuilding. A horse and cart laneway runs through the middle of the clachan.
The original cottage dates back to 1830 and was last lived in by Patricks great-great uncle Bernard, who everyone locally named ‘Barney’.
Since the last time the cottage was lived in, over a century ago, it has deteriorated and fallen into ruins, and being the only physical evidence of who the original Barney is or was, Patrick and his father James, decided to take upon the ambitious challenge of bringing the clachan back to life to keep the legacy of great-great uncle Barney alive.
Patrick wanted to design an iconic piece of architecture, that fully respected the ruins and the legacy of the site. The concept was to construct a new cottage, a minimal piece of contemporary architecture, that floats elegantly over the old cottage ruins below and at night is illuminated like a dazzling nocturnal installation. Patrick’s vision for the adjacent barn, once the winter home of the resident farm bull named “Barney” called after great-great uncle Barney, was to restore and convert the barn with a modern twist, where both the old and new would seamlessly juxtapose, creating a small, yet unique barn conversion.
Construction
Floor Plans
Location and Contact Info
STORY
Barney’s Ruins is an old Irish Clachan nestled in the most tranquil corner of Patrick’s family farm, at the heart of the historic townland known as Gortinure.
The Clachan comprises a cottage that has been gradually expanded over time, accompanied by a small outbuilding. A horse-and-cart laneway runs through the middle of the Clachan, where people once stopped for a ceilidh while journeying to nearby houses or attending Sunday Mass at Granaghan Church in Swatragh centuries ago.
The original cottage dates back to 1830 and was last inhabited by Patrick’s great-great-uncle Bernard, affectionately known as “Barney” by the locals.
Through historical records, we have since discovered that Barney was a tenant farmer, likely cultivating grass seed and raising a few cattle. In those days, many small peasant farmers, like Barney, rented land from landlords who owned vast estates.
The 1880s brought turbulent times for landlords and tenant farmers in Ireland. The tenant farmers organized massive demonstrations, striving to reclaim the land from landlords who had treated them poorly. After years of struggle, Prime Minister William Gladstone initiated a land reform that eventually enabled small farmers like Barney to own their properties.
The farm has remained in the Bradley family for generations, ever since great-great-uncle Barney became its first titleholder. As Barney never married or had children, he passed the farm to his brother Laurence, who then passed it to Patrick’s grandfather Bernard, and eventually to Patrick’s father, James, who still holds the title today.
Since the cottage was last lived in over a century ago, it has deteriorated into ruins. As the only remaining physical evidence of Barney’s existence, Patrick and his father James took on the ambitious challenge of restoring the Clachan, preserving the legacy of great-great-uncle Barney.
Patrick, an award-winning architect, envisioned creating an iconic piece of architecture that would honour the ruins and the site’s heritage. His concept involved constructing a new cottage—a minimalist piece of contemporary shipping container architecture that would appear to float elegantly above the old cottage ruins below, illuminated at night like a dazzling nocturnal installation. For the adjacent barn, once home to the farm’s bull, also named “Barney” after the great-great-uncle, Patrick planned a restoration and conversion with a modern twist, blending the old and new to create a small yet unique barn conversion.
Planning for the shipping container project began in 2019, with construction beginning in the June of 2022 and completed in November 2022.
Barney’s Ruins is an Irish Clachan like no other, a place to relax and unwind, in a magical and beautiful rural farm setting.
| Address | 37e Gortinure Rd, Maghera BT46 5PA, United Kingdom | |
| https://www.instagram.com/barneysruins/ | ||
| stay@barneysruins.com | ||
| Website | https://barneysruins.com/ |
About Patrick Bradley Architects
Patrick Bradley is an award-winning architect renowned for creating bespoke designs across all types of architecture, from traditional to modern. Whether reimagining classic forms or pushing boundaries with cutting-edge contemporary styles, Patrick brings visionary expertise to every project. His portfolio spans transformative extensions, custom renovations, and ambitious, high-end homes, demonstrating his ability to masterfully blend tradition and innovation.
Every project Patrick undertakes is a unique creation. By deeply understanding his clients’ needs and carefully considering context, site, and surroundings, he creates spaces where form, material, and function harmonize seamlessly. From timeless, heritage-inspired designs to sleek, minimalist structures, his work reflects the client’s personality and aspirations while maintaining simplicity, elegance, and authenticity. Patrick’s world-class designs consistently transcend convention, producing shipping container homes that inspire and endure.
His groundbreaking work has earned international acclaim, most notably for his Grillagh Water House, featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs. This iconic shipping container project was named the "Grandest Grand Design" during the show’s 20th-anniversary special. Patrick has also shared his expertise as a judge on RTÉ’s Home of the Year and as the host of BBC NI’s Restoration Rescue, where he breathes new life into neglected buildings, turning them into stunning shipping container homes.
A graduate of Queen’s University Belfast, Patrick is a registered architect with affiliations including the Conservation Register, RIBA, RIAI, RSUA, and ARB. His versatile approach—combining traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge innovation—makes him the perfect choice for anyone seeking exceptional architectural design, no matter the style, scale or budget.
| Address | 30 Gortinure Rd, Maghera BT46 5PA, United Kingdom | |
| Phone | +44 28 7940 1814 | |
| https://www.facebook.com/patrick.bradley.architect/ | ||
| https://www.instagram.com/patrick_bradley_architect/ | ||
| studio@pb-architects.com | ||
| Website | https://pb-architects.com/ |
| Hours Open | |
|---|---|
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 9AM–5:30PM |
| Tuesday | 9AM–5:30PM |
| Wednesday | 9AM–5:30PM |
| Thursday | 9AM–5:30PM |
| Friday | 9AM–5:30PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
Links
- https://www.dezeen.com/2024/07/30/barneys-ruins-patrick-bradley-architects/
- https://pb-architects.com/projects/barneys-ruins
- https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/801895007790090307
Cantilevered Shipping Container Home on Old Foundation, Northern Ireland