The Pennsylvania Barn Vernacular

curt, kyle, victor

The Bank Barn

banked to provide access to the upper level for processing and storing grain

upper level floor extended south in a cantilever fashion over the stable wall below to provide a ventilated area for a granary on the upper level and protection from snow and rain for the animals on the south side of the barn at the lower level

the entrance/exit for the lower level, considered the front, always faced south

The Sweitzer Pennsylvania Barn

forebay depth of 6 to 9 feet, supported only by the cantilevered beams from the upper level floor

front gabled roof slope is longer than the rear because the roof continues unbroken over the forebay

roof angle is steep, approximately 45˚, to facilitate drainage, giving the characteristic asymmetrical roof

forebay front wall is two-thirds that of the rear wall due to the longer front roof slope

The Standard Pennsylvania Barn

most widespread of Pennsylvania barn types

roof ridge to be centered over the barn

symmetrical gable ends and a forebay front wall height equal to that of the rear (north side) wall

more shallow forebay from that of the Sweitzer

Bank barn information obtained from: http://www.dalzielbarn.com/pages/TheBarn/PennsylvaniaBarns.html

The Star Barn

large frame bank barn constructed on a limestone foundation, built in 1872

three-story structure is approximately 67’-6” wide by 105’-6” long

barn has a centered cross gable and square cupola rising above the gabled roof

Star barn information obtained from: http://www.thestarbarn.com/AboutTheStarBarn.aspx

The Star Barn

Photo gallery

Construction Process

Photo gallery

Details

Interior

Modern precedentClubhouse is based on the existing typology of a Pennsylvania Bank Barn, and literally replaced one of the barns on the site. Zoning constrains did not allow to exceed the existing footprint, volume and building typology - therefore the new structure preserves a memory of the old barn typologically and also spatially.

Austin + Mergold LLC Architecture, landscape, design

Mechanicsburg, PA 2002-2005

Modern precedent