The inspiration for the Round Hill Spa came from the history of the farm itself. The bank barn, built in the early 1800’s, used to house livestock that lived on the property. A grain silo, used to store feed for the livestock, sat adjacent to the barn and was removed long ago, although the foundation for the silo remained. The property was formerly owned by a famous botanist Joseph Russell Smith who penned a well known book entitled, “Tree Crops: Toward a Permanent Agriculture” in the 1920’s emphasizing the importance of mature trees in farming and soil preservation. This book was well ahead of its time and foreshadowed a problem with soil erosion many years before it became a sad reality of modern farming. As an ode to this philosophy, we planted a forest of mature trees around the site and backlit them at night – a respective nod to him and his philosophy. To accommodate the needs of the client a larger foundation and silo replaced the existing, but the siting and materiality of the silo remained the same. The 24-foot diameter silo was erected in 1 day and utilizes closed cell spray foam and ductless minisplits to efficiently heat and cool the house. The pool and hot tub, lined up on axis with the silo, helps to keep the kids entertained while the whiskey bar on the first floor of the silo serves as the socializing center and hub for the outdoor space and connection to the barn.
-
The pool on axis with the silo, and the silo on the opposite axis with the barn form a bocce court flanked by Japanese Elms.
-
The silo is located on the foundation of the original grain silo. From the bottom up the spa, whiskey room and kitchen, bedroom, and studio on the 4th floor.
-
The bank barn was renovated to include electricity. A new slab was poured underneath to function as a shaded retreat for pool users. New openings were cut into the main level of the barn to allow views out over the property from the dining and dance hall.
-
The dining and dance hall looks out over the pool, hot tub and the pond beyond.
-
The whiskey room features a custom built curved steel and reclaimed wood bookshelf. The bookshelf houses numerous World War 2 memorabilia from the clients father who fought overseas.
