Wraxall Yard is a sensitively restored dairy farm in Dorset offering inclusive holiday accommodation,a community space, a workshop,and an educational smallholding.The site forms part of a 250-acre organic farm within the West Dorset AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), which is transitioning to a regenerative agricultural system. 

The completed scheme is available to rent either as five individual holiday lets or as a whole site, which includes the use of the community space.As much as possible the original building fabric was retained and left exposed, with repairs and alterations carried out by skilled craftspeople using reclaimed materials, alongside naturally derived, low-carbon products such as cork and wood fiber insulation. Existing openings have been reused, with large expanses of glazing subdivided by timber mullions to filter sunlight and create privacy.

Within the courtyard, views are also filtered through an informal structure of trees and shrubs. This calm, enclosed space is connected to the wider landscape via a Boardwalk, where a number of environmental measures have been implemented such as the introduction of wild honey bees and the creation of woodland pasture.

In addition to working closely with the Centre for Accessible Environments, CBA held design consultations with disabled people to better understand their experiences, and accommodate their needs as elegantly as possible. There are no special routes, ramps, or handrails for wheelchair users; instead, the topography and layout of the pathways have been designed to create gently sloping access. Internally, there are generous turning circles, visual contrasts, switches at an accessible height, and vibrating fire alarms for those hard of hearing.

Carefully specified to avoid feeling institutional, bathrooms and kitchens have features such as sinks with integrated grab handles, rise and fall worktops, and ceiling hoists. The renovated Dutch Barn provides opportunities for all visitors to safely interact with farm animals. In these ways, the restoration of the buildings has been a catalyst for a series of holistic social and environmental endeavours aiming to improve people’s quality of life and the natural world.