Friday, December 30, 2011

Vintage circular barns—design of the elegant curiosity



Above is a photograph of a circular or round barn. This one was built in Michigan around 1916. Specifically, this small barn is a: “very ‘architectural’ [structure] in which the maximum storage of hay has been made possible by its mansard roof…. In this barn we see that narrow clapboards can be bent around and applied to the structural frame. Its color is red, complementary to the green grass.” [1] It’s interesting that some free-spirited farmers “ignored tradition to embark on a structure involving elaborate setup” [2] for the functional design and economical space in the circle. Photograph by versluis, 2011.

Note the minimal pattern of windows and how the design alludes to the modern metal grain storage bin.

  1. Arthur, Eric, and Dudley Witney. The Barn: A Vanishing Landmark in North America. Toronto: M. F. Feheley Arts Company Ltd., 1972. 149. Print.
  2. Ibid. 147.

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