In the round (barn)
Lake Forest, Illinois
2022 - finalist
In response to the 10th Anniversary of the Ragdale Ring and the theme “Roots” our proposal reimagines and transforms a unique vernacular architecture into a series of cascading stages and seating. Illinois has a rich agricultural history and through it a distinct building vernacular which has a life beyond the farm (as evidenced by the Ragdale barn house). One rich and exciting type dating from the early years of the Ragdale Ring is the Round Barn which thrived in the early twentieth century when barn construction was high. Several key innovators helped develop the barn type and spread it across the state and the midwest region. One major designer and proponent of the barns was Algie Shivers. Algie's father, Thomas Shivers, was a slave who made his way to the north through the underground railroad. Both father and son were innovative creators and builders who looked for opportunities to make their farms and community’s farms more efficient and progressive. Thomas was the earliest in his area to have plumbing, tractors, and electricity on his farm. Algie excelled at carpentry and focused on building and developing at least fifteen round barns. African American settlers to the region became known for the construction of these fabulous structures. Algie could raise one quickly in a few months and continued refining ways that they could help farmers.
The organization of the barns made milking cows much more streamlined as they could be milked from one central location instead of in circuitous redundant loops. In terms of construction, less timber was required than a traditional barn thus saving farms time and labor. The designs also consolidated structure to the core and eliminated most interior supports, freeing up more usable space throughout. With the success of the barns in the region, the University of Illinois developed a successful project to continue developing their construction and deployment on farms. The Agricultural Experiment Station at the university built three dairy barns from 1907-1913 to further study and demonstrate their efficiency, low maintenance (no corners!), and storm resistance. They published the designs in their regular bulletins which led to their popularity and the construction of them throughout the state. The barns were not exactly round but generally ten or sixteen sided constructions comprising the ring. Although the focus laid on their success in terms of efficiency, they also excelled at producing visual delight through their elegant radial structures. The interiors expose the web of timber framing and backsides of the intricate high shingled surfaces making exquisite assemblages. Further, the hipped profile of the exterior makes a distinctive silhouette on the Midwestern plains. These elements combine to make utterly unique structures local to the region.
The combination of the difficulty to build the barns and new mechanical and milking technologies which were incongruent with their design caused them to fall from favor. In the late 20th Century, The Round Barn Multiple Property Submission in Illinois worked to place eighteen of the structures onto the National Register of Historic Places. They are now used for a number of things besides farming including housing and market spaces. Nearby ones to Ragdale include Meadowood Farm a few miles away and the Wheeler Magnus to the south. Meadowood Farm had a beautiful round barn designed by Ralph Varney in the 1920s which was converted thirty years later to a residence still used today. While these round barns are protected, it is extremely commonplace for barns to come down or be periodically updated with new materials. This results in Illinois having a large amount of waste from these structures most of which can be reused. Northern Illinois in fact has the most available salvaged wood from barns in the Midwest. This includes timber framing members, shingles, siding, and flooring.
Our proposal looks to transpose a magnificent round barn onto Howard Van Doren’s Ring visually as well as materially. The design places a round barn onto the site and then begins to fragment it in order to create an organization which questions the central focus of the ring or round barn in favor of something with multiple orientations. The singular ring or round barn becomes dispersed through a relaxation of the traditional hierarchies and axis of the site. There exists a looseness between the elements to encourage different seating and performance configurations as well as a playful place to visit or relax when events are not occurring. The materials are sourced from nearby salvage yards to create a kit of parts from reclaimed timber posts, shingles, flooring, and pallets. The salvaged pieces bring texture and character while also being updated through painting which unifies the saved parts into a cohesive design. The barn's form retains its exquisite silhouette formed by the framing and shingles but opens up to allow views through the structure and across the ring. The shingles provide shade and cover on warm sunny days with the openings still allowing visual openness. The constructed elements can be easily repurposed after, for new designs and structures, continuing their cycle of reuse. Drawing on the rich history of Ragdale as a place of performance and gathering as well as the regional heritage of vernacular buildings and their builders, In the Round (Barn) looks to create a welcoming and dynamic place of discovery and fun.
