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This visually striking charred barn house, designed by MaMo Architects, is nestled on a 10-acre countryside property in West Chester, a borough and the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania. Contrasting heavy timber with concrete and steel, this barn combines modern and traditional construction methods. An honest, simple interior tells the story of how the building was constructed.
The structure features a stair tower capped by a light shaft that extends past the roof, offering views to the sky. Varied spatial volumes are integral to this experience of the building, and the landscape playfully joins in this expression, undulating up and down.
DESIGN DETAILS
ARCHITECT MaMo Architects
BUILDER Thompson & Foster Construction
FEATURED ARTISAN Shawn Hollenshead (Millwork)
LANDSCAPE DESIGN Don Pell Gardens
SUSTAINABLE EXTERIOR SIDING reSAWN TIMBER Co.
Project Goals & Conceptualization
The “Charred Barn” project aimed to construct a sculptural barn that harmonizes with the surrounding agrarian landscape while adhering to sustainable principles. The project aimed to reconnect the owners with nature, invoking childhood nostalgia and carefully framing views of the landscape. Drawing inspiration from the utilitarian structures of Pennsylvania, the design evolved to blend residential qualities with the aesthetic of a barn, highlighting concrete’s role in achieving both form and function.
Sustainable Design & Implementation
“Charred Barn” is a testament to sustainable architecture, featuring a plethora of eco-friendly elements:
- Orientation and construction methods optimized for energy efficiency.
- Advanced systems like geothermal heating/cooling and photovoltaic panels with battery storage.
- High-performance materials, including ICF construction, triple-pane glass, and extensive use of recycled content.
- Innovative techniques like thermal mass exploitation, natural chimneys for heat regulation, and operable skylights for enhanced natural ventilation.
The use of locally sourced, thermally treated wood and reclaimed materials for millwork further underscores the project’s commitment to environmental stewardship, creating a space that is not only sustainable but also deeply rooted in its local context.
“Charred Barn” is more than just a building; it is a landmark of sustainable design that integrates seamlessly with its environment, providing a functional, aesthetic, and sustainable space that serves as a model for future eco-friendly architecture projects.
What We Love About This Home
What makes this charred barn house so special is its beautiful balance of contrasts. While the dark exterior is designed for durability and to blend into the landscape, the interior shifts to lighter, warmer tones that feel inviting, calm, and deeply livable. It is a thoughtful reinterpretation of the classic barn, modern in execution yet rooted in agrarian tradition, offering both quiet refuge and timeless character.
Tell Us: What details do you love most about this charred barn house? Let us know in the Comments below!
Note: Check out a couple of other fascinating home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of Pennsylvania: This Pennsylvania barn becomes a luxury retreat for entertaining in style and 19th-Century barn in Pennsylvania is restored into a stunning rustic home.
Large expanses of glazing maximized natural light while taking advantage of stunning views. The home’s two cantilevers are achieved through the insulated concrete formwork (ICF) shell.
View of Stair from Kitchen: Polished concrete floors; reclaimed timbers used in the timber frame for the stair; wood-burning stove serves as the primary heat source due to triple-pane glass from Anderson Windows & Doors; the materiality of the interiors reflects how the house is built and requires very little additional decoration. True to task, durable, and family-friendly.
The central staircase links to a heat chimney that expels hot air and pulls in cooler air via a vented skylight, similar to a cupola on an old barn.
In the living room, floor-to-ceiling windows frame beautiful views of the rolling Pennsylvania hills. During the summer months, the cantilever on the exterior helps to shelter this space from the sun.
On the upstairs level, you will find three bedroom suites, with the owner’s bedroom set on the southern side to maximize views of the Brandywine Valley.
Owner’s Bath: A simple palette of white marble is used in every bathroom. The boardform concrete shown to the right begins to tell a story about how the house was built, while the textures create a sense of scale and warmth. Impressions in the concrete speak to its making. The A-Series windows from Anderson Windows & Doors are white on the interior and black on the exterior.
The black exterior cladding features charred wood siding sourced from reSAWN TIMBER Co. and corrugated metal siding from ATAS. A standing-seam metal roof from ATAS completes the attractive monochromatic envelope.
PHOTOGRAPHER Jxeffrey Totaro
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