Client: Applied Form & Space / Luis Lobao (Architect)
- 3 Dundee Park, Suite B02, Andover, MA 01810 / 978.474.1945
Shoot Date: October 14, 2019
Location: Dracut, Massachusetts
Site: 3,200 sq. ft. (Home); 1,320 sq. ft. (Garage)
Style: Farmhouse with Shop/Garage Barn Design
Featured Highlights: Shop/Garage, Breakfast ("Gathering") Room
Photo Assistant: Tony Degrazia
Click here for the extended Gallery.

"It became clear that the nature of the site, it's location, the backdrop of the meadow and surrounding woods, kept pushing towards the image of a farmhouse." - Luis Lobao, Applied Form and Space

Introduction

When a longtime client calls with an assignment, featuring a farmhouse-style home with a garage designed as a barn, and wants to have it photographed during some of the best foliage days in New England, it's hard not to want to grab my camera and get out there first thing. New England is known for its distinct seasons and vibrant autumns. Having the opportunity to use these scenes as a natural backdrop is only possible during a short time, a mere two to three weeks of bright color if we're lucky. It's not long before a predictable, yet unexpected storm inevitably rips through the northeast and tears the colorful leaves to the ground.

The home happened to be in Dracut, MA, a border town sitting just below the State of New Hampshire. The architect, Luis Lobao from Applied Form and Space, actually grew up with the homeowner. This project endured a couple of revisions as the family grew, and their priorities shifted. I spoke with Luis to gather some more details and backstory that would not only support the images in this article but give us all some perspective from the design-side and highlight the problem solving that takes place for architects every day.

Planning Stages

"Having grown up in the neighborhood with one of the owners and being a current neighbor, the owners approached me to help realize their vision on a plot of land they had recently purchased. While outwardly different from the completed work, even during the initial design process, the owners' aesthetic taste gravitated towards timeless, simple forms inherent to the New England lifestyle."

It must have been the season because while Luis and I were talking about the project and determining what our goals were, I couldn't help but dream up a visual wishlist of my own. There's something about autumn in New England that slows the mind's pace a little bit, and maybe it's in witnessing the natural world around us calmly approach its winter dormancy. A lot of New Englanders, northern ones especially, like to pick-on the leaf peepers that travel from near and far to see the change of seasons. I know that deep down, they enjoy that morning coffee on the front porch, or on the docks pinned to lakes throughout the region, donning their thick sweaters while watching the geese race south, set to a backdrop of auburn, bright yellows, and tones of golden brown and orange. No one is immune.

But, color alone wasn't enough to entertain my wishes. I wanted to see some fog. I needed a fog. I've become a bit more interested in the atmosphere I present in my work. Analyzing and predicting weather has become an obsession. Just a clear, bright day doesn't cut it for me anymore. And, it's not just fog I'm after, I want mood.

For Applied Form & Space Architects © Joseph Ferraro, 2019

With the warm days and cold nights that take over northern-New England mid-autumn, I was hopeful that we might start the day with some fog. It so happened that Franklin was on to something with his "early-to-rise" quip because it paid off in dividends. Arriving just as blue-hour began, around 6:10 am, there was enough light in the sky to illuminate the barn-style garage, but even the Moon stayed around long enough to make a guest appearance. I wish all assignments could start so well.

Exterior

Although the home sits on acreage that was once farmland, the function of the garage was a space for the homeowner to build and to create. Growing up, "the owner would make customized bicycles, some to sell, but his favorites to keep. Now those were replaced with fully custom motorcycles and customized cars." It was clear to Luis, the homeowner's "vision of a working shop where the mechanically inclined owner can have his space was fundamental to this project.

The detached barn is a vehicle hobbyist's dream. Separate from the attached garage for the daily drivers, and it accommodates interior storage lifts allowing for storage of up to 4 vehicles. It also includes a tall center bay with a working lift for building and repairing vehicles. An exterior parking bay for the motorcycle's transportation trailer is also provided."

Though the initial focus for me, photographically, was the barn-style garage, it wasn't the only plan for photography that day. The home featured design elements that took into account the family's desires, but also played in symphony with its surroundings. It wasn't until I read Luis' words below that I began to understand the cadence of his creative process and tonal range of his problem-solving facility. As you read his words below and reference the photography, I find a contemplative mindset and a well-curated playlist help to tie all of these ideas together.

"The front farmer's porch is low to the ground eliminating needs for railings. Instead of traditional porch posts, beefier columns were used to give the monochromatic design more visual weight. An asymmetrical main gable provided an anchor and a visual clue to the main entry. The gambrel form along the longitudinal axis allows for the necessary usable space for the second-floor bedrooms. The sweeping curved rake of the southeast gambrel allows for an elegant transition to the farmer's porch roof. It responds to the curving road's approach, with its arcing profile dramatically angled toward it. It anchors the simple rhythm of the windows that sweep up, implying the interior stair. On the rear, a simple screen porch nestled between the house and the attached garage allows for summer enjoyment of the meadow and hills beyond."

Interior

The first thing you notice when walking into the home is a large room, filled with sun, with windows looking out onto undeveloped land, lit up with the changing colors of the season. With the idea of creating an open concept, they did not want to compromise on charm. And, while the dining space just off the kitchen is in-and-of-itself its own identifiable space, the high ceilings and large windows allow the area to breathe and maintain that well-intentioned feeling of home.

"Meeting the owners' desire to have spaces that feel open without losing the homey feel that fully open concept spaces sometimes can. The breakfast room is flooded with natural light throughout the day and has become the owner's favorite room – so much so the architect now uses the term "gathering room" to describe these types of spaces. Natural light is a priority, achieved by using nearly 6' tall 6/0 windows throughout the main living level."

The high ceilings continue into the family room, divided from the kitchen only by the warmth of a see-through fireplace.

Challenges

All building projects inherently come with their own baggage. From issues with permits to last-minute changes, and budgets, to name a few. This project, however, took on new ground by changing the topography of the site to prepare a place for the home to rest.

"The biggest challenge came from the topography of the site, which required importing over 3,000 cubic yards of soil. The construction duration was approximately 14 months, from excavation to completion. Another interesting note is how, in addition to the architect, several other folks who grew up together or were somehow otherwise tied to the "old neighborhood" worked to complete this home. Among them, plasterer, electrician, plumbers were neighbors or childhood friends of the owners."

And, where is there any more personal a home project when you can get your friends to help you?

My best wishes to this family and their home, and that it may stay in the family for generations to come.

- Joe

See more images from this shoot by clicking here.

More about:

Luis F. Lobao, Architect, NCARB

Applied Form and Space, LLC, Andover, MA

Luis Lobao is a founding Principal and is responsible for all phases of project delivery. He has extensive experience in multifamily, office, retail, custom residential, accessibility, adaptive reuse, historic restoration, and institutional projects. Mr. Lobao received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology, College of Design and Construction. Mr. Lobao is NCARB certified and is registered to practice architecture in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He serves as a member of the Green Building Commission in Lowell, MA. Several of his projects have received recognition from entities including the Boston Preservation Alliance and the Luxury Living Awards. (https://www.afsarch.com)