I spotted this old tobacco barn en route to a friend’s house in rural Connecticut. I immediately pulled over to admire it — too bad if I was running late. It’s a practical, yet artful, vernacular building type that has survived a waning New England industry. The hinged vertical boards open to ventilate drying cigar leaf tobacco. The crisp, standing-seam roof nicely contrasts the aging, red exterior, crowning the old with the new. Check out Connecticut Valley Vernacular by James F. O’Gorman for more information about these impressive work buildings and the industry that created them.
Also, (since it never hurts to ask) if you’re in the market to respectfully adapt an obsolete tobacco barn to a residential or creative use, let me know. It would be a dream project.
by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast and SquareOne
Read more design snapshots by architect Katie Hutchison.
Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products
Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
The New Carbon Architecture: Building to Cool the Climate
Pretty Good House
A House Needs to Breathe...Or Does It?: An Introduction to Building Science
View Comments
Great Article. Thank you for posting this. You might be interested in checking out fine luxury homes by Brejnik Fine Homes(www.brejnik.ca). They build fine luxury houses. Brejnik team consists of qualified and trusted: Architects, Interior Designers, Appraisers / Lenders, Trades & Suppliers, Geo-technical engineers, Structural Engineers, Arborists, Landscape Architects, Pool & Water Feature.