The Barn House was originally commissioned by a gentleman farmer for his farm in upstate New York. This home was designed to combine the functional spaces of a barn, with a home for a family of four. Based upon the layout of a traditional Tuscan Farmhouse (stables below, living quarters above), the house combines forms and elements of rural Hudson Valley barns and contemporary architecture to create an agrarian home.

The ground level of the original home was dedicated to tractor, equipment, boat storage, vehicle storage, workrooms, and exterior access storage. The very versatile nature of this lower level design, allows for easy adaptation to sloped lots, elevated pier designs, or even a traditional below grade basement design. If the lower level were built as a traditional basement or crawlspace, the house would essentially function as a single level design, with a loft. If built elevated with the garage ceilings 10 above grade as shown, weather tight doors can be used at the head and foot of the connecting stairway, to seal the main level off from the air of the garage: a significant healthy building issue.

The second floor is actually the main level of the home, and contains all the residential spaces. The home's three large bedrooms, with their high, sloped ceilings are on this level. Each bedroom has access its own full bath. The open floorplan of this level is designed to make the space feel even larger than its footprint would indicate. Combined with the healthy natural light from well-placed main level windows, as well as indirect light from upper level clerestory windows, the effect is open and airy, yet still warm and inviting. The efficient square shape of the main level is offset by the angled main stairway and entry, and most notably by the large round two level fireplace surround. A narrow glass wall to one side of the fireplace, and a custom sliding glass pocket door that recesses into the fireplace surround, divide the livingroom area from the study and back two bedrooms.

Although most of the main level of the home is designed to take advantage of views, from the upper level loft you can see in all directions. To the front of the home, the loft overlooks the livingroom below, out through the front window wall of the home, and to the views beyond. To the rear, large windows bring in light and the view from that direction. Windows that run the length of the loft bring in the view as well as balanced, indirect light from both sides. It's these loft windows that when opened in the summer, allow the entire upper level to act much like a cupola; letting hot air rise and escape passively out of the house. In addition to good healthy indoor air circulation, this passive cooling can reduce or even eliminate the need for summer air conditioning in most climates. In the winter, the loft is warm and cozy. With its views and its own fireplace, it makes an excellent sitting area or reading room.