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Preserving the 19th-century barn was a priority for both the new owners and was mandated by the town of Bedford, New York’s Historic Preservation Commission. The first goal was to preserve the barn’s original massing, uniquely locked into the large stone retaining wall into which the lower level of the barn was integrated. The second goal was to extend the life of the barn by utilizing it thoughtfully as a habitable living space that served as an extension of the nearby farmhouse, also renovated by the design team.
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The project emphasizes preserving and enhancing the natural landscape, once cleared for agrarian purposes but now reforested and protected with The Nature Conservancy. This commitment to protect large swarths of the natural environment in perpetuity, both for human enjoyment and the well-being and survival of local flora and fauna, has been coordinated with the limited redevelopment of small parcels of land such as the 4 acres associated with the farmhouse and barn renovations. Creating this large expanse of enjoyable and largely natural landscape and then connecting it to the building through the use of large openings with operable doors and windows raises awareness of our environment and enhances the mental and physical health of the occupants.
Efforts to preserve and restore the barn’s timber frame, stone retaining walls, exterior wood siding, and other finishes significantly support the project’s sustainability goals. The use of locally sourced natural materials, such as fieldstone and Eastern white pine, helps reduce the carbon footprint. Preservation maintains a link to the past, while adaptive reuse extends the life and relevance of built structures. The diminutive nature of the addition means that minimal resources are employed for maximum benefit. Spray insulation and thermally isolated windows and doors create a comfortable, energy-efficient interior. Paired with zero-VOC paints and waxed wood finishes, these measures reduce environmental impact while modernizing the structure and enhancing occupant health and comfort.
When acquired by the current owners, this 19th-century barn, designated as a significant structure by the Bedford Historic Building Preservation Commission, was structurally compromised and underused as a storage and utility building on the property of an adjacent 18th-century farmhouse. The barn has been reimagined as an extension of the property’s family living space. While the restored main house serves most day-to-day needs, the barn’s dramatic volume provides a venue for larger gatherings. The original historic structure was preserved, stabilized, and weatherized. A modest addition, distinguished by large glass expanses, floods the space with light and opens it to the bucolic surroundings. In collaboration with the Bedford HBPC, the public-facing two-story structure and stone retaining wall were carefully restored, retaining original massing and materials. The new roofline picks up the slope of the historic barn and then cants upward to allow for an uninterrupted expanse of modern operable glass doors that fully open to the barn’s pastoral site. Together, the original barn and new addition house a media lounge, a 12-person dining area, and a lower-level billiards room. A custom glass and blackened steel wine tower provides a dramatic focal point. The original timber frame is preserved and complemented by new contrasting tongue-and-groove finishes, with the western wall left intact to honor the barn’s original footprint within the new interior.
The Barn was a workshop full of hammers, saws, and nails, and totally unused. Now it’s a place to relax with friends, play pool, sip bourbon, and admire our wine collection. SPG turned it into something truly unique—a red barn from one angle and a modern building with Asian influence from another. Two worlds meet in the most unexpected and beautiful way. Every time we walk in, it makes us smile and look around with a little bit of wonder. We are so grateful to SPG and their creative vision.
SPG Architects is an award-winning architecture firm currently led by Eric Gartner. SPG provides a comprehensive range of design services and has completed an array of architectural projects of varying scale and character in regional, national, and international locations. Projects includes single- and multi-family residences, retail environments, corporate interiors, institutional and hospitality buildings and spaces. Eric Gartner obtained his MArch degree from the University of Virginia, where he maintains an active relationship, serving on the School of Architecture’s Foundation Board. He also regularly serves as a visiting design critic for student reviews. SPG Architects’ built work is now located not only across the US, in Latin America, and in Africa, and SPG’s projects have been published worldwide. Eric’s ongoing commitment to design exploration, and environmental & social responsibility, has informed a body of work combining forward-looking and sustainable design.
