Farm House Design Concepts

Basics

The farmhouse must follow local, regional tradition. Stone in the Midwest, cedar in new England and adobe in New Mexico are just the most obvious examples. The home should give the conceptual impression of context: each aspect is placed within a larger community. The house itself should reflect the landscape as the landscape has defined the tradition of the region. The natural world is part of the community no less than the human beings that make it up. (ref 3, Introduction)

In the mid-19th century, the rise of economic individualism gave rise to privacy concerns. Slowly, the farmhouse was moved from the street to the center of the land, giving it a sense of isolation. The entrance typically opened into the family room or sitting room. Commonly, bedrooms in America were located off the sitting room, but also could be reached from the kitchen without going through the sitting room. Middle class farmhouses were often busy, with guests typically gathering on front porch or the simple sitting room.

In his 1860 work on agrarian housing, "The Architecture of Country Houses," A.J. Downing lays out many important ideas for basic design. Wood, he asserts, is least desirable since this is the weakest of materials. Stone and brick are preferable, since these reflect the agrarian ethos---quality over quantity. He stresses the importance of symmetry and utility with the end of communicating the pragmatic wisdom that separates the farmer from the urban, "book read" technician or artisan. Snugness and comfort should be placed above beauty or ornament. The kitchen should be large and bright, and should face the South so it gets the winter sun as long as possible. Furthermore, Downing recommends the ranch style over the multi-storied house, since the farmhouse should strive to be close to the earth from which a farmer derives his living.

In a comprehensive work dealing with farmhouse design, "The Farmhouse: New Inspiration for the Classic American Home," Jean Rehkamp Larson does not differ from Downing in her basic recommendations. Larson stresses the practicality of the design, permitting many later additions to the original home. The single most fundamental idea to the traditional American farmhouse is the straight, 90 degree angles and the 45 degree roof angle. These stress simplicity and practicality---a wisdom that knows more than intelligence. The same goes for the monochromatic color scheme, a solid white for the home with minor details with an accent color like black, red or green. The home should give the visitor an instant sense of comfort, warmth and simplicity but never sacrificing stability and strength in the process.