The latest newsletter from Field Sport Concepts, a group of affiliates devoted to rural land conservation of which we are members, features Oakhaven Farm in Austin, Texas. This Blackburn-designed farm includes a 16-stall barn, open and enclosed arenas, and related structures. The vernacular of the area inspired the use of local materials, such as its "Austin Stone," while the deep trellis provides a bit of shade for the horses and owners.
One of Blackburn's favorite books on barn design is now available in paperback. Ultimate Horse Barns, by Randy Leffingwell, is a handbook for horse barn owners as it covers 18 equestrian facilities across the U.S. and Canada. Three of those facilities are Blackburn projects—Round Lot Farm, Heronwood Farm, and Culver Academies.
The work features Leffingwell's photography, interviews with the owners, and the story behind each unique design. For more information, visit Voyageur Press online.
We're pleased to announce that our line of pre-designed barns called Blackburn Greenbarns® are now available in ready-to-construct form. Starting with four models, each barn is designed to capture the power of the sun and wind to provide natural light and ventilation. While each barn can be modified to meet your design preferences and operational goals, the "starting point" concept designs minimize architectural fees normally associated with complete custom design.
We hope you'll visit our Greenbarns Web site at www.blackburngreenbarns.com and contact us with any comments, suggestions, or requests for more information.
Blackburn Architects' work at Sagamore Farm in Glyndon, Maryland is a part of Kathryn Masson's new book called Stables: Beautiful Paddocks, Horse Barns, and Tack Rooms from Rizzoli Publications. With gorgeous photography by Paul Rocheleau, the book is available through Rizzoli, Amazon, and major book stores.
Blackburn Architects' work at Ketchen Place Farm is featured in the Spring 2010 issue of Architecture DC Magazine. Created by the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the AIA, Architecture DC provides local architects and members of the trade with news and information within the architectural and design industry.
Blackburn is pleased to be a part of Build-On: Converted Architecture and Transformed Buildings by the Berlin-based publishing house Gestalten. The collection showcases adaptive reuse projects from across the globe designed by a variety of architects. Blackburn's renovation of an 1800s bank barn into a "party barn" in Leesburg, Virginia is featured. The book is available through Gestalten and book retailers worldwide.
One of our recent projects, Sagamore Farm, was written about in the May 10, 2009 issue of the Baltimore Sun. Read about the owner’s plans to revitalize the thoroughbred racing industry in Maryland here.
Another Sagamore piece worth sharing is the following video about the legacy of the farm, which was originally owned by Alfred G. Vanderbilt II, and the former home of Native Dancer. Watch out for views of the finished renovation throughout the video.
Blackburn is honored to have participated in the renovation of this renowned property and also wishes to congratulate Sagamore Farm on its recent Graded Stakes win under 3-year-old filly, Shared Account, on Friday, August 21st at Lake Placid at Saratoga Race Course.
One of Blackburn’s projects, The Rosemount Center, was in the news when actress Jennifer Garner visited the daycare and preschool facility to read and visit with students. The center was also recently honored by the Historic Mount Pleasant for the restoration.
John Blackburn was a recent guest on Stable Scoop Radio Show, a podcast on the Horse Radio Network, which you can listen to online. The hosts Helena B. and Glenn the Geek cover a variety of equestrian topics and took the time to interview Mr. Blackburn about his experience with equestrian design.
The New River Bank Barn won an AIA Merit Award in Historic Resources, as well as the 2007 Southern Living Home Award in Historic Restoration. Southern Living Magazine went on to feature the project in its annual Best of Southern Living Issue.
Blackburn Architects was recently given the ABC Award for "Excellence in Construction" for The Rosemount Center.
Recently Completed Projects
Ketchen Place Farm, located in Rock Hill, South Carolina, is a 20-stall barn located on a gently sloped 50-acre farm. The shed row style barn features a grooms apartment above for the observation of foals.
Glenwood Farm in Ridgeway, South Carolina is located on a hilly 250-acre is designed of wood and stone to fit within the natural landscape. The covered arena and outdoor dressage arena with surrounding paddocks overlook a small pond. The 12-stall barn with two wash/groom stalls will be used to board private horses as well as for the family's personal use.
Oxon Hill Manor, located in Montgomery County, Maryland, is a 49-room, Georgian-style mansion on the National Registry of Historic Places. Extensive renovations and upgrades to the 1928 mansion, subsequent to a catastrophic fire in 2004, were completed in the summer of 2007.
New River Farm on the Potomac River in Loudoun County, Virginia was completed in the spring of 2007. The project included a 24-stall barn and a 25,000-square-foot indoor riding arena.
The Rosemount Center in Washington, DC, originally built in 1911 as a residence for unwed mothers, was renovated and expanded to house the country's leading Head Start program.
Grant Residence and Artist Studio, located in Ware Neck, Virginia, was built around stringent wetland requirements. The contemporary cottage complements the historic site, while the large screened porch provides panoramic views of the scenic Ware River.
Devine Ranch and residence located in Aptos, California was designed in a "Tahoe-like" architecture style using timber frame construction, natural siding and Montana river rock.
