A BALANCING ACT LIKE NO OTHER
by Kate Dell’Aquila

On a grassy knoll, behind rolling hills and thousand year old trees lies a little barn. Nothing unusual for the Suffolk coast where historical towns like Walberswick and Aldeburgh dot the land with their picturesque stables. Yet, through the morning haze as you drive down a long, windy, (off the map) road, something sparkles in the distance. Upon approach you learn that the seemingly little, “ordinary” barn in the distance, is in fact not ordinary at all.

Sitting on the edge of a a tranquil nature reserve, the Balancing Barn, as it is known to locals reflects it’s lush surroundings. Clad in sparkling silver tiles the grange replicates it’s surroundings by mirroring the landscape. But that’s not what makes this shiny shelter interesting. The house, designed by the Dutch architecture firm MVRDV, extends across the ground it occupies and at midpoint cantilevers over a descending slope. A balancing act only acrobats could compete with. The result of this clever trick is that 50 percent of the barn hangs in free space allowing for a stunning panoramic view of the Suffolk wilderness.

Inside a series of four bedrooms, all accompanied by private bathrooms, can be found. The bedroom sequence, however, is interrupted by a hidden staircase that provides access to the grounds below. The hanging section of the house contains a large living and lounging area complete with full length windows giving visitors the opportunity to really connect with nature.

Back on the road, as you leave the grassy knoll and look back at the Balancing Barn, it is almost invisible. One with nature, its little pitched roof and traditional shape hide what really lies behind its walls.