Party Barn
Situated in the serene hill country of Oklahoma, a three-hour drive from the bustling city of Dallas, is the location of this family retreat. Affectionately called the “party barn” by their children, the home was designed as a weekend get away – place to relax, slow down, reconnect with the natural environment and entertain close friend and business associates. The 2400 square foot program is tucked under an unpretentious pre-engineered metal building that sits on an unadorned concrete slab. The underside of the metal shell is clad in plywood, giving the living spaces a warm inviting glow. the plan was kept open and the windows placed to flood each space with natural light, capture views and facilitate indoor/outdoor living. The core that subdivides the volume consolidates the kitchen, two bathrooms, storage and all the building systems.
On the east and west facades the window walls are covered and protected by sliding barn doors. The north and south glass enclosures are protected by the extended roof overhangs and wingwalls. On the southern end of the home there is a large outdoor porch equipped with a fireplace. The over hang was designed to protect the space from the sun in the summer and warm the spaces in the winter. The wing walls protect the space from seasonal winds making the space usable throughout the year. The concrete encased master closet on the first floor doubles as a safe room. The concrete enclosure extends up into the loft and wraps a rustic built-in bunk bed.
The finishes through out the house have been kept simple except for the kitchen and bathrooms where a more refined sensibility was employed. Flush cabinets, granite counter tops, high-end appliances/fixtures as well as a custom island table that can be used for dining. The table can be disengaged and rolled into the grand space or out onto one of the porches. The custom metal light fixture cantilevered over the kitchen island, stair and handrail details were designed with an industrial feel and echo the exposed metal building structure.
