Conversion (barn)
Encyclopedia
The Conversion of Barns involves the conversion of old farming barns to commercial or residential use structures. Many older farm building
s are being converted for holiday use. This is partly due to modern farming practices making many of the older type buildings redundant.
conversion has become quite popular in the waning years of the 20th century. Changing a barn over from its historic agricultural use to residential use generally requires significant changes in the integrity of the barn and if the structure is of historic value these alterations rarely preserve the historic character of the barn. As many older barn designs were relatively windowless one of the key additions in barn conversion for residential use is that of window
s. For a barn to be comfortable as home walls often have to be insulated and refinished and the interior volume of the space must be greatly reduced. Other residential details and fixtures are also added such as chimney
s. The barns site itself is often altered by the addition of close-in, driveway parking and residential landscaping
. Some barn conversions go so far as to dismantle the entire original structure, discarding the exterior and simply reusing the internal structural supports on a new building.
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
s are being converted for holiday use. This is partly due to modern farming practices making many of the older type buildings redundant.
Responsible residential conversion
Barn to home conversion is not and does not have to be detrimental to the historic integrity of a barn site. Successful conversions can and have taken place. The most successful residential barn conversions result from a combination of factors including a careful choice of barn. A more medium sized barn with sufficient extant windows where the internal volume can be near completely utilized can allow for a successful and historically responsible conversion of a barn.Criticism
While not a new phenomenon barnBarn
A barn is an agricultural building used for storage and as a covered workplace. It may sometimes be used to house livestock or to store farming vehicles and equipment...
conversion has become quite popular in the waning years of the 20th century. Changing a barn over from its historic agricultural use to residential use generally requires significant changes in the integrity of the barn and if the structure is of historic value these alterations rarely preserve the historic character of the barn. As many older barn designs were relatively windowless one of the key additions in barn conversion for residential use is that of window
Window
A window is a transparent or translucent opening in a wall or door that allows the passage of light and, if not closed or sealed, air and sound. Windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent material like float glass. Windows are held in place by frames, which...
s. For a barn to be comfortable as home walls often have to be insulated and refinished and the interior volume of the space must be greatly reduced. Other residential details and fixtures are also added such as chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
s. The barns site itself is often altered by the addition of close-in, driveway parking and residential landscaping
Landscaping
Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including:# living elements, such as flora or fauna; or what is commonly referred to as gardening, the art and craft of growing plants with a goal of creating a beautiful environment within the landscape.#...
. Some barn conversions go so far as to dismantle the entire original structure, discarding the exterior and simply reusing the internal structural supports on a new building.