In common with many architects, the Hudsons have their own country bolthole nearby. The holiday lets were too good an opportunity to pass up and they are looking for other potential conversions in the vicinity - something of a change of gear from the usual work of the practice Hudson Featherstone in London, which is now designing a large theatre-led commercial development in Peckham. It also says something of the sometimes baffling attitude of architectural awards judges. While this relatively low-key conversion project is now tipped for an award, it seems weird that another and much bigger Hudson Featherstone project, their fine all-new “Drop House” in Hertfordshire, has missed the cut. Maybe it’s the unexpected revelation of those confidently-handled barn interiors that swung the jury.

In contrast, the Barnhouse in Highgate, by architects Sutherland Hussey, is an all-new house that just happens to exactly follow the form of three ad-hoc old buildings that used to stand on this extraordinary site perched high on a ridge looking north-east across London. The old buildings were barns and slaughterhouses for a butcher that used to have his shop on the high street here. Later they became an eccentric art gallery, which was much loved locally. When the gallery owner sold up, the plan to turn the site into a £500,000 private house proved to be highly controversial as a consequence, and there were some fierce tussles along the way. Some felt it should become public open space: in reality, the only likely alternative was for it to become a restaurant.