Exmoor Shoot Lodge
Set within a secluded farmstead in the heart of Exmoor National Park, the project reimagines an existing agricultural barn as a refined boutique shoot lodge, balancing contemporary design with a respect for its rural setting.
Agricultural character, contemporary design
WDA’s approach began with a careful analysis of the existing building, identifying the constraints and opportunities that would shape the design. The project reinterprets the architectural language of the original barn, transforming a humble agricultural structure into a bold yet understated destination that remains firmly rooted in the landscape.
The design is driven by a considered composition of apertures. A single giant doorway was kept in place as a feature window that opens to the valley and forest below, with new insertions carefully considered to play on the rhythm and language of the original building while framing views of the countryside, and enhancing natural light.
Authentic use of materials
The original external skin is replaced with charred timber cladding, its rich texture and grain echoing the weathered character of the existing barn while giving the building a distinctly contemporary identity. The restrained palette and sensitive response to the existing barn allow the building to sit quietly within the Exmoor landscape.
Existing barn
Proposed Barn
Hospitality designed around the guest experience
Designed to accommodate both the rituals of the shoot and the comforts of retreat, the lodge provides a sequence of generous communal spaces alongside ten luxurious guest suites. A welcoming reception leads to practical boot and gun rooms before opening into elegant lounges, dining spaces and a bar, where guests can gather around an open fire after a day on the moor. Separate facilities for loaders and beaters ensure the building functions seamlessly during shoot days, while a gym, sauna and discreet private roof terraces offer moments of relaxation and tranquillity.
The interiors celebrate the duality of country life. They are robust enough to endure muddy boots, wet coats and the demands of a working shoot, yet warm, tactile and inviting enough to become a luxurious retreat at the end of the day. The result is a building that feels rugged and sophisticated, incorporating both a hardworking rural lodge and a luxurious countryside escape.
