faulkner architect's modern 'big barn' echoes rural california

faulkner architects draws on the agricultural heritage of glen ellen, california in the design of its newly completed ‘big barn.’ north of san francisco, the rural site is located among a less populated area of the napa wine country, characterized by rolling hills covered with groves of oak trees. the strong agricultural history is reflected in the architectural language of the region, with barn-like structures that integrate a contemporary residential vocabulary. on the existing footprint of a 1950s ranch house, the project evolved in response to a request for a retreat from urban living. the atmosphere of a nearby tack barn renovated into a bunk house inspired the design of a timber structure.

image by joe fletcher | @joefletcherphoto

faulkner architects designs its ‘big barn’ to visually integrate with the rolling hills scattered with agricultural buildings. a simple, rectangular, two-story volume emerged with an asymmetrical gabled roof. the shorter side of the roof faces the southwest sun and reduces heat gain to the structure. fenestration is limited to this exposure as well and is organized like thin full height ventilation shutters that reference traditional barn building. the entry, a larger version of the vertical slit elements is recessed for shading. the fireplace and chimney, foreign to the barn typology, is displaced from the structure with glazed joints.

image by joe fletcher

faulkner architects aligns a large vertical wood shutter along the southeast gable with an internal access through the plan on both levels of its ‘big barn.’ when open at both ends, prevailing breezes flow through the mass cooling it naturally. in order to leave the hillside intact and avoid grading, the form is excavated into the site uphill and cantilevered over it downhill. a steel grated bridge connects the upper sleeping level with the hillside and tack barn above. a minimal material pallet of reclaimed redwood, corrugated corten steel and black steel sash windows combined with integral gutters, and lack of overhangs further the minimal feeling of the construction. inside the singular materiality is continued via california oak for floors wall and ceilings.

image by joe fletcher