The Barn

The Barn is the inaugural project for “The Bridge District,” a new 178-acre mixed-use neighborhood development one mile from the California State Capitol in West Sacramento, California.

A multi-use structure, The Barn blurs the disciplinary boundaries of architecture, landscape architecture, and structural engineering. The first-ever structure of its kind, The Barn opened in June of 2016 and has since hosted al fresco dinners, festivals (up to 30,000 visitors per event), farmers’ markets, charity events, TED talks, etc. at the center of a framed view of Downtown Sacramento and providing a grand gateway to the riparian Sacramento Riverfront — something that has been long missing from Sacramento’s urban landscape.

Situated within the larger Northern California agricultural zone, the sculptural form of The Barn is inspired by a sprouting vegetable seed. This form is further informed by sun angles, whereby The Barn’s orientation on the site and the ultimate shape of its canopy maximizes the amount of shade created for the benefit of its users. The overall architectural concept is facilitated by a contemporary interpretation of traditional barn building components with the aid of parametric design.

Structurally, the building is designed to seemingly defy gravity. As a double cantilever, the superstructure springs upward from two independent foundations, meeting at a dramatic apex that forms a sinuous canopy. The beams and trusses are constructed from glue-laminated wood. Intermittent steel reinforcements join the various trusses into beautifully expressed trestles visible from within the two enclosed “pods” and from the exposed underside of the canopy. The shell of the structure is achieved by using nominal wood members, laid side-by-side in a singular direction, to create straight line generated curves upon which the shingle roofing can be applied.

Programmatically, the project is comprised of two “Pods” from which each side of the superstructure contacts the ground, an open air canopy, and a larger landscape that connects to the river walk and new development. The “Pods” introduce a level of flexibility to the facility. The larger Pod is outfitted to accommodate a restaurant and the smaller Pod outfitted to accommodate a secondary-use of the same tenant, or can be operated by a completely different tenant. Regardless of tenancy, each Pod has ample outdoor seating that is protected from the sun beneath an 80-foot long canopy that soars 20-feet in the air.

The Barn, constructed entirely from wood, stays true to how traditional barns are built, yet with a contemporary interpretation of the traditional barn building components. With the aid of parametric design, the project delivers a non-traditional shape with a traditional material. The Barn is a fully functioning building, with dedicated electric, water, gas, HVAC, and public restrooms, and complies with California’s stringent Title 24 energy guidelines. Programmatically, The Barn is comprised of two “Pods” from which each side of the superstructure contacts the ground, an open air canopy, and a larger landscape that connects to the river walk and new development.

Email interview conducted by John Hill.