Convert barn into apartment and workshop

[Thoomas]

I like both your plan and car choice, I myself had many elaborate plans for a similar solution before I met my future (ex-)wife.

Is that an -84 I spy and in the "bag" a Lux? Currently, I'm driving a 2D -84 without opening rear windows and with a carburetor

Yep, you see correctly! A T16 3-d Lux -84

I currently only have ex-wives so I thought I'd take the opportunity to realize some ideas.....

 

[Stuff]

I think you should convert the barn into a workshop, but I'm also torn about whether it's very convenient to combine a workshop and living space. Having a social area for your mechanic friends in the loft seems like a good idea, but living and sleeping up there with various chemicals, welding, etc., underneath when you sleep doesn't feel as good. It requires a lot considering fire safety and ventilation. Even if it's in the countryside and outside the detailed plan, no one wants you to live in a death trap

Why do you want an apartment in the barn? Is the barn the only building on the property? If so, I suggest you use the barn as a workshop and build another small(?) house on the property to live in.

 

[Thoomas]

I think you should convert the barn into a workshop, but I'm also torn about whether it's very convenient to combine a workshop and living space. Having a social area for mechanic friends in the loft seems like a good idea, but living and sleeping up there with various chemicals and welding below doesn't feel as good. It requires a lot of consideration in terms of fire safety and ventilation. Even if it's in the countryside and outside a detailed development plan, no one wants to live in a death trap

Why do you want an apartment in the barn? Is the barn the only building on the property? If so, I suggest you use the barn for the workshop and build another small(?) house on the property to live in.

Thanks for the consideration! Good reasoning regarding ventilation and fire safety. This is probably a bit more complicated than I initially thought...

There is a residential house on the property that I live in, and it's in good condition. My long-term plan is to rent the house out or subdivide and sell it and keep the barn with a small plot.

 

[Nissens]

Hello!

I have a small barn on my property (100m2 ground floor area) and I have had an idea that I now intend to realize. I will convert it into an apartment combined with a workshop and storage for my cars.

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So far, I only have the plan in my head and no drawings, but the main idea is to build upon the loft and create an upper floor with the apartment. I'm considering 2 dormers on the roof to create more space with straight walls. Then I plan to have a south-facing balcony with solar panels as roof area.

Regarding the garage/workshop section, the plan is to create an opening in the base wall in the low part of the barn to create a workshop with sufficient ceiling height for a column lift, and the remaining ground floor space will become a stylish "car showroom" with a hangout space and various fun features that one always wished for from Santa.

The entire building will be insulated, and I'm thinking of underfloor heating from the existing geothermal heat pump.

I envision a modernly furnished apartment but with an exterior in a more old style.

So early in the project, my current thought is whether it will be more cost-effective to convert the existing building or demolish it and build a new one? What does the panel in this fantastic forum think?

I plan to do most of the work myself but bring in expertise for parts I do not master, like electrical and plumbing.

Grateful for all opinions on my project!

Best regards,
Thomas

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Hello,
How did it go with this?