Agricultural Immersion

Preliminary Thesis Ideas“Not only have the hard facts of economics given renovation a new feasibility, but they have pointed up the rewards- newly found desirable for aesthetic, historic and humanistic reasons- which the character and space of old buildings offer.

Everyone benefits.

The gain is not just in higher property values but in a return to values of a different sort, all but forgotten in the headlong rush to a progress in which bigness superseded the relationship to people, once a mark of our culture.” -Thompson, Elisabeth K. Recycling Buildings: Renovations, Remodelings, Restorations and Reuses.

Adaptive ReuseAdaptive reuse is the process of recycling old buildings to serve a function which is different than their original ones.

Advantages of reusing include:• Pay only for labor, not materials• Saves cost of purchasing land• Saves demolition costs• People pay more for buildings

with character• Faster than new construction• Can be acquired for low prices• Can provide tax advantages• Increased federal, state and local

funds available• Imposes fewer public and social

costs• Conserves energy

“...If all the hidden costs were spelled out in the balance sheet, the recycling of architecture would be perceived as the only rational strategy for the management of material resources. Then we could appreciate huge areas of abandoned and semi-abandoned built tissue as resources, not obstacles for future growth.”

Adaptive ReuseBesides being better for our environment and cheaper than new construction, adaptive reuse adds to the quality and character of our towns. It leads to social mixing and the apposition of functions in an area. It allows us to preserve the integrity of a building and honor the original architect or design team. Reuse enables us to remember the cultural values inherent during the time a building was erected. We

have a better connection to buildings which have been recycled for a new purpose than to newly constructed ones that may or may not fit our needs. They can become landmarks in a city or models for future projects. They can inspire us and ground us. When compared to all that a recycled building can make us feel, profitability should be a bonus, not an incentive.

“Asking ‘What could this building become?’ may reveal more possibilities than,“What has this building been?’”

“What is essential is that, somehow, we achieve much more purposeful control over the processes of change, so that what is best from the past is retained, and what is less than good is replaced by something better – thus constantly enriching the environment rather than eroding and diminishing it.” -Thompson, Elisabeth K. Recycling Buildings: Renovations, Remodelings, Restorations and Reuses.

Building TypeThe adaptive reuse of old barns is desirable for aesthetic, historical, and humanistic reasons. I think it is important to conserve these remnants of the past so that we can preserve the integrity of our buildings, examine the history of architectural styles and farming techniques, and help to maintain a valuable part of our collective culture as Americans.

“Historical and architectural monuments- the everyday buildings of everyday people- exist in every community, overlooked and unappreciated. Yet in their day, these buildings were not insignificant, either in

purpose or appearance. They functioned as working buildings for working people. Today they are important to us to a degree that would surprise their original owners and builders: their scale, right for an era of smaller cities and fewer people, and their character, warm with the dignity of work, are once again qualities we seek. That the volume of space these old and still useful buildings offer is greater, in most instances, than can be afforded today is an added and very practical benefit of their preservation. The old building has superb attributes which were neither presumed for it nor desired from it even so recently as ten years ago.”

“Happily, renovation of old buildings for use as residences is on the increase, for this gives life not only to the buildings themselves but also to the neighborhoods in which they stand...[They] are simple structures of humble use- relics of the everyday life of everyday people. These ‘architectural artifacts’ are no less worthy, in their way, of preservation and indeed, they can and do restore a scale and character to a neighborhood which enhances the quality of living and increases the value of both the property itself and of its neighbors...The old building ripe for conversion or renovation is a challenge- and an opportunity with unpredictable rewards- which can seldom be resisted. There is something about a barn that is irresistibly appealing, a romantic atavism, perhaps, or the scale or volume of its space.”

-Thompson, Elisabeth K. Recycling Buildings: Renovations, Remodelings, Restorations and Reuses.

Historic farm buildings play an important role in the landscape character and diversity of rural areas and are crucial to our understanding of the evolution of agriculture. They also provide an important economic asset; where they have become superfluous, barns can provide a high-quality environment for new businesses or housing through adaptive reuse, helping to alleviate build pressure and reduce the demand for new buildings in rural areas. Thoughtful and informed design, responsive to local building practices and landscape character, is essential if recycled buildings are to enrich, rather than harm local sense-of-place.

Building Type

C o m p u t e r Modeling Experiments

The topic I feel strongly about and which I will be pursuing for my thesis is the adaptive reuse of agriculture buildings. I want to look further into their importance to our collective culture and how to maintain the integrity of their structures, so I wanted to become more familiar with their structures.

Dichotomies

Traditional vs. Modern Natural vs. Artificial

Ornamentation vs. Structure Light vs. Dark

In an early exercise, we were asked to construct 3D paper models relating to our ideas and overlay film stills with found images. My thinking for this project led me to identify five

dichotomies present in the structures of agriculture buildings, and the one which was most interesting to me and which I chose to pursue further was “order versus chaos.”

Order vs. Chaos

By thinking on a molecular scale rather than the grand scale of a barn, I was able to abstract my idea into something that behaves as a whole but can be differentiated into parts. My model is based on an image of wood under a microscope. When we look at the pieces that make up this model, we are reminded of the wood beams responsible for carrying the weight of a barn. Our discussion of film techniques led me to add another layer. An arrangement of cylinders, reminiscent of wood beams, rests inside of the model.

ZOOM

When we zoom in and enter the model through the holes on the side, a beautiful chaos is revealed. Perspective is what’s important in how we perceive this building type- as orderly or as chaotic.

ORBIT

The model portrays different ideas when viewed from different angles. In one view it takes the shape of a barn, and it’s a strong, imposing structure that we’re looking up at. From above, it’s completely abstracted. The film overlays help us to connect the model to the buildings that it’s inspired by.

Case StudiesAn ecomunicipality is a local government area that has adopted a specific set of ecologically and economically healthy principles and adheres to a systematic approach to implementing and following these principles, ensuring a more sustainable and connected future. This type of government is democratic, participatory and community driven, and recognizes that anything that happens in one part of a system affects all of the other parts. In this type of holistic government, sustainability is a central concern in decision making. This is the type of community I am interested in creating for my thesis work.

The first ecomunicipalities were created in Sweden in the 1980’s. The pilot development of Övertorneå, created in 1983, was a rural northern town of five thousand. Its success led to the rise of over eighty ecomunicipalities through Sweden in the last three decades, accounting for thirty percent of all municipalities in that country. Now the idea is spreading to other countries, including the United States. A project has been created to teach countries how to implement the model on a five year plan, and is applicable to municipalities of any size.

Eco-Planning and The Natural Step Framework

The Natural Step Framework is an approach to sustainability that was developed in the late 1980’s by a group of international scientists in Sweden. This sustainable strategy for competitive advantage provides a common lauguage of sustainability and its goals in order to promote participation and effective communication. This common language and set of guidelines facilitates shared understanding, a lesser chance of conflict and competition, and ultimately, a network of support, and can be integrated to strategically guide business goals.

The principles of The Natural Step Framework are guidelines for how we design, develop and manage our communities. The four core principles are as follows:

• Reduce dependence upon fossil fuels.• Reduce dependence upon synthetic chemicals.• Reduce encroachment upon nature.• Better meet human needs fairly and efficiently.

By following these guidelines, communities can improve economic and social situations, help to make the Earth’s resources last, and achieve long term success in both.

This barn in the English countryside town of Gloucestershire was recreated by McLean Quinlan Architects as a vacation home for a large British family. Parts of the original barn were reused but two new wings were added to the structure to accommodate the family’s need for a large kitchen/family room, six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a playroom, a utility room, a boot room, a gym and changing rooms for a new outdoor pool. Constructing so much new space allowed for the highest standards of construction and insulation, but was also challenging for the architects,

Stow-on-the-Wold by McLean Quinlan Architects

who were tasked with having to make the old and new spaces mesh together and feel authentic. The final product is simple, comfortable and elegant yet totally practical. The home sits naturally in the landscape and relates sensibly to the outside. The perfect blend of traditional and modern elements was achieved by adding dramatic beams of warm green oak to the ceiling and designing a proportional contemporary fireplace. Additional materials include cotswold stone and white painted plasterwork.

The natural, rustic structural elements together with the clean lines and simple palette of the furniture lend themselves to a beautiful design. If my personality could be represented in built environment, it would be similar to the interior of this home. My style is

a mix of comfortable and elegant, industrial and romantic, playful and sophisticated. I admire the reuse of items and identify strongly with the goals of authenticity, exclusivity, using natural materials, and supplying handmade products.

The Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture is a non-profit farm and education center located in Pocantico Hills, New York. The Center operates an 80-acre four-season farm which provides for two restaurants, as well as education initiatives and public awareness programs which aim to improve the way America eats and farms. The mission of The Center is to create a healthy and sustainable food system that benefits us all, increase public awareness of healthy, seasonal and sustainable food, train farmers in resilient, restorative farming techniques, educate children

The Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture

about the sources of their food, and prepare them to steward the land that provides it. They celebrate community-based food production, seasonal ingredients and chef/farmer collaboration.

The Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture and the group of Blue Hill restaurants that it supports were models for my Specialization Studio project, Fraîche, located in Pineville, Louisiana. For my Thesis branding strategy, I am inspired by the design of the restaurants’ websites and menus.

Design ComponentThis project is an experiment which combines all of the ideas represented in this book. Using an abandoned dairy barn in Louisiana, I have worked to breathe new life not only into the structure but into the town in which it sits.

This beautiful barn is located in Pineville, Louisiana on the premises of Central Louisiana State Hospital, a treatment center for the mentally ill. Built in 1923 by Joseph H. Carlin, a patient at the hospital, the barn was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 15, 1986. This gambrel-roofed wood frame dairy barn sits on a knoll overlooking Lake Buhlow. It is a 2 story frame structure with attached single story wings. Sadly, the barn has fallen into ruins and is now used as a storage facility for hospital.

Central Louisiana State Hospital Dairy Barn

When the Dairy Barn was in use, it provided food for the patients of the hospital. Given their mental state, a nutritious diet was of great importance, and the hospital could not have functioned without the barn. The barn was run and maintained by patients who had been released from the hospital but were unwilling to return to the harsh reality off hospital grounds. The barn was of great importance to Pineville then, and today, it stands as a symbol of the town’s history. The history of the barn together with Louisiana’s French roots inspired the programming, name, decór, and branding of this project.

The new dairy barn will be a combination of a restaurant, educational center, and community gathering place. People visiting the restaurant will value locally grown food, healthy preparation techniques, and a sense of community. In keeping with feelings of community, I will work to make the space feel open and natural. I am concerned with maintaining the integrity of the building and its agricultural background, and will be responsive to building practices and landscape character when crafting my design. I will look to the past to create a healthier and more connected future for Pineville.

FraÎche

Key Design Determinants

• Look at farming patterns to influence seating arrangements• Maintain integrity of building through materiality• Ensure that everyone can see structure/ornamentation on ceiling• Keep the space open while allowing for various functions• Conceal the kitchen and bussing areas• Make the space feel intimate while still providing light• Make the staircase a focal point

FraÎche Dining Room

FÊte Private Event Hall

Boisson Bar