BOSQUE_THE FARM

Agri-living community in the Catskill Mountains, NY.

Date: 2022
Client: Live Bosque
Status: Design
Location: Durham Valley, NY

La Pequeña Farm is the heart of Bosque. It will provide fresh produce, eggs and dairy year-round to residents, as well as the opportunity to participate in the agricultural lifestyle the community lays out. The goal of the farm was to use the very process of design and construction to strengthen the bonds amongst the community.

The barn is the largest structure in the community. It was conceived as a vibrant gathering space, suitable for different purposes but always resulting in a powerful sense of social interaction.

The simplicity of the barn´s form is intentionally reminiscent of traditional North American barns, visible across the pastures from neighboring farms. Strategically located on the East side of the community, it creates a warm and inviting entrance to the farm, visible from the meandering paths as one approaches the building. The structure is cladded in wood and a series of retaining walls define the exterior spaces. Barn door sized shutters can close the large windows. Inside, a communal kitchen is the heart of the building, hosting long-table dinners and serving fresh food from the farm.

The stables will result in a partially underground structure, allowing the views of the mountains from other areas around the barn. The same retaining walls that define the exterior spaces around the farm, will be used here to create this open structure. Animals will benefit from natural cross ventilation and a calming diffuse light