Project overview: Land’s Sake Farm is a nonprofit community farm located on public land that was originally part of the Harvard Arboretum. The farm’s mission is to connect people to the land, fostering community and inspiring lifelong stewardship that creates meaningful connections between people, the food they eat, and the land by preserving the town’s rural farming heritage and expanding the mission of farming and education.
The new Animal Barn at Land’s Sake Farm is the result of a five-year pro bono effort by the entire consultant team to design a structure on a pristine site that utilizes the craft and materiality of “First Settlers” building techniques, blending a confident nod to modernity while preserving the “infinite vista” through the heart of the historic site. It is a curious structure that seamlessly fits into the New England landscape, surrounded by historic homes and agrarian structures. Yet, upon closer examination, its undeniably modern features become apparent.
The fundamental concept is that of a pavilion floating in the landscape, serving both as a shelter and a gathering place. The intriguing changing shape of the roofline and its relationship with the enclosed components of the barn below create a dynamic interplay between the two forms. A system of translucent sliding panels brings light into the barn and creates an ever-changing façade as the building opens and closes in response to weather, time of day, type of use, or the season. Locally sourced timber and handcrafted details permeate the entire structure, providing a radiant materiality throughout.
Project location: Weston, Massachusetts
Firm name: Payette
Architect of Record: Payette
Completion: 2022
Jury comments: The project stands out by contributions such as utilizing local timber from a women-owned sawmill, giving back to the community through hunger relief, giving trees a second life and more. This is an admirable pro-bono project that will have a real impact on addressing hunger and malnutrition within the community.
