The Inspired Intermedia digital book collection
Issue link: https://inspired.uberflip.com/i/1448979
231 Farmhouses F armhouses were one of the original architectural styles to dot the American landscape, and are very much a part of the country's history. Perhaps this is—at least partly—why they hold a special place in our hearts. We've all driven down rural roads and admired the picturesque farmhouses and ranches, wishing we could have a look inside. Warm, welcoming, and familiar, farmhouses are the comfort food of residential architecture—nearly everybody loves them. Initially, early farmhouses and ranches were designed as a singular, main structure and embodied the simplicity that you still find in many rural homes today. Over time, as needs changed, the main structure was augmented to meet the growing needs of the farmers and their families. The result of these additions gives us the meandering farmhouses and expansive ranches that we admire today. By the early 1900s, New England farmhouses were comprised of four structures, which you can learn more about in detail in Thomas C. Hubka's insightful book, Big House, Little House, Back House, Barn: The Connected Farm Buildings of New England. He offers a thorough history of Northeastern farmhouses and a fascinating look into the regional agricultural lifestyle of the time. No matter how modern the farmhouse or ranch home design, the addition of rural considerations such as livestock, crops, and land maintenance add another dimension to the project that makes it markedly different f rom a suburban custom home. As you look at this chapter's pages, you may notice designs that give away interesting details of the farm, the family, and the land. Jeff Kaufman JMKA | architects Westport, CT see page 460 JMKA | architects, Westport, CT, page 460