Swallowfield Barn
Fort Langley, BC
Construction complete 2017
Swallowfield is a working hobby farm in the berry-field landscape of the rural Fraser Valley. A true haven, the farm welcomes many people to enjoy the produce from its gardens, orchards, flocks, and herds. The challenge on this project was to use the very process of design and construction to strengthen the bond amongst a tight-knit family and build community within their rural neighbourhood. The result is a building that serves the needs of the farm, while also offering a community gathering space to enjoy the bounty, beauty, and peace and quiet of Swallowfield.
A simple barn designed for simple inhabitants - the resident cattle, swine, and fowl - the structure includes a new workshop on the ground floor and a hay loft that is also used for long table dinners, celebrations and poetry readings.
The barn was built using conventional construction techniques combined with state-of-the-art engineered timber connections, thereby paying homage to the simple beauty of traditional barn buildings with a simple clear span roof form. The construction process was tailored to involve the local community in its building from the ground up, in the manner of traditional barn raisings.
Photos by Ema Peter Photography