For one couple in rural Connecticut the concept was to create a multigenerational space to enjoy with their five children, friends, and extended family. Part of a sweeping master plan for their property, this understated antiqued party barn is intended to adapt as the family grows and ages over time.
Architect Mark P. Finlay, who has a long-standing relationship with the family, defined the core concept for this family barn as a multigenerational building with a long-term plan. The current incarnation of the space is that of a party barn where the owners children can spend time with their friends out of the main house while remaining on the family property.
“It’s a multigenerational design.” Explains Mark. “We worked it through and talked about the functions of the building, how it’s going to work, who is going to use it, how it would be used in 20 years versus now. We really talked through the whole thing. It’s part of a three generation, or 50-year, plan. It is a building with a singular design idea that will work really well in the future because it can adapt to a lot of different functions.”
Uniquely designed with reclaimed timbers and barnwood, the building was intentionally constructed out of older materials to give the structure a timeless feel and look at home in the country landscape. In contrast, the interior was designed to be fresh and modern, giving the space an air of vitality and fun, making it the perfect addition to the bucolic family farm setting.
“We decided to make a brand new “old” barn. We can do an antique frame and antique barn board and the whole thing could be old pieces reassembled.” Says Mark. “We wanted the barn to feel like it was old and had always been there.”
With the reclaimed timbers and paneling provided by our sister company Pioneer Millworks, New Energy Works came to the project through our trusted building partner Hobbs inc. who acted as the general contractor on the project. We helped to select the reclaimed hand-hewn timbers and re-create and rejoin the truly salvaged source materials into the modern structure for the project, as well as integrating our wall penalization system. The challenge was to reconfigure what was an existing structural timber frame from the past into a building that was completely new, fitting seamlessly into the property.
“For what New Energy Works does, they are really craftsmen. They know their end product really well, and you learn that stuff through experience.” Mark concluded. “And I know that New Energy Works has some unbelievably great experience.”
For more on this project:
Fine Homebuilding's April/May 2022 issue: Transforming an Old Barn Into a Modern One
and
See our case study: Old yet new
Project Credits:
Architect: Mark P. Finlay
Builder: Hobbs, Inc
Other Credits: Engineer: Fire Tower Engineered Timber, Reclaimed Wood: Pioneer Millworks, Photography: Jane Beiles
