What a grand design of a barn!

If you tuned into Grand Designs recently, you might have spotted our Associate and founder, David Smith, stepping into the spotlight. The episode celebrated the completion of a remarkable project: the strengthening and refurbishment of a 150-year-old timber-framed barn in North Bedfordshire — a project DSA was proud to be part of.

As the episode shows, this wasn’t a straightforward renovation. The barn’s age and condition demanded careful structural inspections and thoughtful interventions. David made numerous site visits to assess the building’s integrity and ensure it could be transformed into a safe, stunning home. Our structural engineers at DSA developed bespoke solutions, including splicing in new timber sections and crafting like-for-like replacements to retain the barn’s original character.

Another major challenge was the repair of a failing retaining wall at the lake’s edge. To tackle this, we installed an inflatable cofferdam to creating dry working conditions, enabling the essential foundation repairs to go ahead safely.

Throughout the project, owners Sarah and Pip showed extraordinary resilience, overcoming challenge after challenge — though it certainly made for gripping TV! DSA was pleased to support them and help keep their dream alive.

You can catch the full episode of Grand Designs, aired on Wednesday 2nd April 2025, here. Short on time? Skip ahead to 10 minutes 58 seconds to see David’s cameo!