Our Barns: Our Stories

This thesis explores how the concept of intangible cultural heritage can inform the design of a tangible form in a changing cultural context. Specifically, questioning how the intangible concepts of community, craft, and story can inform a design strategy which integrates the adaptive reuse of a traditional barn with its new suburban environment. Heritage buildings can act to inspire architects to think outside of the box and to raise the bar on suburban design.Timber framed barns are beautifully exposed examples of traditional craft, serve as a reminder of the agricultural history of an area, and provide a unique opportunity to give a new sense of identity to the evolving suburban culture. This project explores the technical, conceptual, and contextual implications of adaptive reuse of a barn in a suburban environment. The Bradley-Craig Farm at 590 Hazeldean Road, Stittsville serves as a case study for this research and adaptation.