ENTERTAINMENT BARN

This project sustainably transformed a surviving 19th-century farm, north of Chicago, into a place for family gatherings, food production, and environmental stewardship.

Every viable structure was preserved including the pond that was expanded into a thriving lake, an ecosystem for both recreation and support of a migratory wildlife habitat.

At its heart, an 1860s hand-hewn timber barn, sourced in Canada, was erected and then encased in a steel exoskeleton, a “barn in a bottle,” uniting historic craft with modern minimalist architecture.

Reclaimed corral boards clad both interior and exterior, while charred Accoya wood, sedum roofs, and fly ash concrete piers further underscore its sustainable approach.

With its off-center chimney, wide-plank oak floors, and the adaptive reuse of historic materials, the design honors the farm’s heritage while securing its many more years into the future.

Scope
Architecture + Interior Architecture

Collaborators

Contractor: Lake Coast Construction

Interior Design: Shafer Crowe | Architecture + Design LLC

Landscape Architect: Scott Byron & Company

Photography
Steve Hall, Hall + Merrick + McCaugherty Photographers

Completed
2023