The glass veranda at Vreta Golf Club

There’s something special about old barns. Especially when they’re allowed to remain exactly what they are – but with new possibilities. At Vreta Golf Club outside Linköping, a heritage-listed barn was joined by a new glass veranda. A discreet addition that leaves the barn untouched.

Understand first, then draw

This is a project born from close collaboration with both the client and local craftsmen. The aim was never to design everything in detail, but to create a building permit document suited to the sensitive environment. Much of it then took shape on site, through conversations and moments of shared inspiration.

— This wasn’t about designing a new building. It was about understanding what already existed, and making the additions needed – as gently as possible – to create more space for dining and socializing, says Helena Hasselberg, lead landscape architect at Tengbom Linköping.

The clubhouse, a historic barn, is the heart of the facility. By adding a glass-enclosed veranda and an outdoor seating area with a 180-degree view of the golf course, it has undergone a natural evolution. The character of the barn still leads the way, while the new additions blend in seamlessly.

Old materials with new stories

The material choices pay tribute to the site and its history. The brick floor stretches from the interior out onto the terrace, creating a natural transition between indoors and out. The roof is covered with sedum and also contributes to biodiversity.

Thanks to copper sheeting from Linköping Cathedral, the new bar counter gleams — the client reclaimed and reused the material during the church’s renovation. The beautifully aged metal sparks curiosity. The staircase is also repurposed, built from reclaimed planks from the farm, and the rustic tables carry marks of previous lives. These are the kinds of details that make the new outdoor room feel lived-in rather than brand new.

— The fact that the bar counter is clad in copper that sat on the cathedral for hundreds of years… it really affects the atmosphere here. And it says a lot about the kind of client we worked with, where every detail mattered, and nothing was done halfway, says Helena.

A custom-designed hood hangs above the fireplace in the room, also clad in the reclaimed copper sheeting.

A meeting place for more than golfers

The outdoor room is bright, warm, and faces the course. But it’s also meant for those who just want to have a coffee, spend time together, or gaze out over the landscape. In winter, ski tracks run across the fields, and the barn stands as a steady centerpiece all year round.

— We wanted this to be a place where people would want to stay a while. Whether or not they play golf, Helena explains.

New, yet self-evident

The extension is discreet but changes the whole house. It creates more places to gather, better flow, and a greater sense of community. The barn remains the main character, but now with company that amplifies rather than alters.

Inside, the raw brick floor forms a solid foundation alongside robust furniture, chosen to be used. An acoustic ceiling lowers the sound level and makes the space just as suitable for a glass of wine as for a meeting after nine holes.

New, yet self-evident. As if it had always been part of the whole.