Instead of erecting a prefab shed to shelter his herd of pygmy goats on a dry, grassy Bavarian slope in eastern Germany, architect Michael Kühnlein built a tiny wooden barn for less money, using off-the-shelf lumber from the hardware store.
The result, sited at the edge of the goats' grazing pasture, is an elegant wooden cube with a design borrowed from the flat-roofed local houses in eastern Bavaria:
Photography via Kühnlein Architects.
Above: Kühnlein and a friend built the structure with narrow spruce planks, used to fashion walls, ceiling, and floor. The result is a stylish mini barn that cost less to build than a prefab shed.
Above:The goats' doorway is elevated so it's at a height that's comfortable for them. Goat tenders and other humans enter through the full-height opening on the back of the barn.
Above: Commercial grade spruce planks from the hardware store cover the facade. Inside the barn, a room divider keeps the goats from eating all the food stored inside.
Above: Spruce boards overlap at the corners to create a woven effect where the walls meet. Empty spaces between boards provide ventilation and light for the goats.
Above: Using the techniques of traditional block construction "even buildings for agriculture can be well integrated into the landscape," the architect says.
For more farm outbuildings, see:
- Got Your Goat: Harley Farms on the California Coast.
- At Home with the Cheese Man of Pas de Blénac.
- Campus Visit: Sterling College for Aspiring Agarians.
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