Modern Farmhouse

The family camp consists of three buildings: The main cabin contains the living spaces; the second is the sleeping cabin; and smallest of the trio is for guests. The angular geometry of the roofs and placement of the buildings creates a dynamic ensemble.

This compound of new buildings adopts a vernacular rural style, reinforcing the culture of the place by using simple barn forms. The composition is unified by painting all the buildings the traditional ferrous oxide red.

This small house with a large presence draws from sources far and near: ancient Greek Doric temples, Palladio’s ‘Redentore’ and Villa Barbaro, Peter Harrison’s Redwood Library, Jefferson’s Monticello, Asher Benjamin’s carpenter pattern books, and local Greek Revival building traditions of Concord.

Exposed rafter tails and an oiled fir interior evoke the imagery and character of a rustic camp. Zig-zags and criss-crosses of wood are carried throughout the house as an ornamental theme.