Barn Loft

The structure had been vacant and unmaintained for nearly forty years with shingles shedding from the roof and openings visible through the roof structure causing rotting upper floor deck and visible evidence of a past fire.

The solution celebrates the simple honesty of the vernacular architecture coexisting with the relevance of modernism. The solution includes arrangement of the long rectangular floor plate with an open living core and kitchen to support the owneers' love of cooking and entertaining, flanked on either end with bedroom suites for privacy. Window openings are retained and re-glazed. The roof is insulated on the upper side allowing the open gambrel structure to both define the interior space and provide the finish. Pocket doors made of salvage wood tuck out of the way for an open feel when desired. Natural concrete countertops and bulb-on-a-chord chandeliers in the kitchen completes the look.

The exterior takes a more traditional approach with much of the exterior skin retained or replaced in kind for an appearance reminiscent fo the original barn. And a vaguely discernible commercial "ghost" sign painted on the exterior facade is retained for its historic appeal, nodding to the adjacent historic district. The lower level is reserved for a future retail space - possibly a small coffee shop, specialty grocer or a bistro that fits the appeal of the space and surrounding neighborhood.

Boxing Images

 

 

Location
Cheyenne, Wyoming

Owner
Annaliese Wiederspahn
307-638-6417

Contractor
Louie Torres
307-640-0761

Role
Architect of Record
Interior Design

Personnel
Lyle Murtha, Principal Architect

Scope
Re-Purposing
Design-Build

Size
1,600 Square Feet (Loft only)

Cost
$.6 Million

Completed
2016