Reclaimed Materials From A Missouri Barn Becomes Dynamic Design Event Space

A deteriorating barn in northern Missouri was in the process being demolished and scrapped when <a href="http://www.willoughbydesign.com/design-barn/" target="_blank">Ann Willoughy</a>, a neighbor, asked to salvage the materials and use them to create a new barn on her own working farm. The Willoughby Barn, designed by Kansas City, MO-based <a href="http://www.eldo.us/residential-studio-2/willoughby-design-barn/" target="_blank">El Dorado</a>, is a dynamic building filled with daylight and breezes from the nearby woods that is an excellent example of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/beautiful-garden-studio-built-from-reclaimed-fence/" target="_blank">reclaimed design</a>. Situated to take in views of the fields, the barn serves as a stunning event space for the owner, who works as a graphic designer and business identity consultant.

Ann Willoughby was looking for a retreat and storage space to compliment her existing barn on her working farm outside of Kansas City, Missouri.

The <a href="http://www.willoughbydesign.com/design-barn/" target="_blank">Willoughby Design Barn</a> is actually a brand new construction that uses mostly reclaimed or recycled materials from a neighboring farm's century-old barn.

The new barn sits back behind the existing barn, where it has access to dramatic views of the farm and the fields and enjoys the cooling breezes from the nearby forest and its sunny southern aspect for natural daylighting.

Adjacent to the barn are the ruins of the farm's original <a href="http://inhabitat.com/the-crib-prefab-inspired-by-traditional-american-corn-cribs/" target="_blank">corncribs</a>, which are visible in the photographs as a series of limestone walls.

By total cost, over 56% of the barn is made from <a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/recycled-materials" target="_blank">recycled or reclaimed materials</a>, but by volume or weight that figure is probably higher.

The barn's <a href="../fabcab-a-most-fabulous-cabin-timberframe-prefab/" target="_blank">timber frame</a> came from the neighbor's barn and the flooring came from a demolished grade school gymnasium.

The heavy oak stair treads, cypress trim, and the pine boards that sheathe the interior construction were also reclaimed.

The exterior is clad with 90% recycled corrugated copper, while translucent fiberglass panels cover part of the roof to let <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/daylighting" target="_blank">daylight</a> stream in.

Operable windows, natural ventilation, and awnings help keep the building cool in the hot summer sun.

What started off as a dilapidated barn has been transformed into an active and frequently used space.

Since the barn was completed in 2001, it has hosted a variety of events including parties, conferences, seminars, and much more.

Large barn doors allow the space to be completely open to the outdoors for 8 months out of the year.

Floorplan of the Willoughby Barn.