Hello EN. I’ve been writing many posts recently regarding barn design and safety, and I thought to myself: what if I could design my very own barn? What would I do? What aspects would I need to consider? Then, my mind of course starts racing, I get a bit overwhelmed, and I throw my hands in the air thinking “I need help”. Plus – this is something I will plan and save for, consider buying certain property because of, and since I am a perfectionist and don’t like to do anything without planning, I’m of course going to need someone to hold my hand.
Luckily, I’ve been able to chat with Holly Matt, noted equine facilities designer of Pegasus Design Group, and she has generously agreed to help me theoretically “build my perfect barn”, and help you all do the same in the process! So here it goes – I’m going to attempt to design the perfect barn for when I have a plot of land somewhere, some day.
1) Holly, quite plainly, where do I start? I see so many beautiful barns on a daily basis (some of which I probably can’t afford…) and I have no idea what the various options are … What is the first step? Where do I begin? HELP!
Holly – First things first, you need a 1) zoning regulation review 2) plot map, or survey 3) wish list prioritized 4) size of each element 5) budget
You simply start from the ground up: we begin with the land. Take a deep breath, then walk around you property or pick up your plot map. How do you imagine your horses and their home fitting into this landscape? Are you picturing the scene populated with rows upon rows of classic gleaming shed row stables, with a lively herd of wildly roaming yearlings? A full cross-country course snaking through the property? Or a small, simple, and stunning 4-stall barn nestled into your land, so perfectly laid out that it makes getting up at 4 am to feed those 4-footed fuzz-balls just a little bit easier…. It is from these dreams that you build your wish list. A wish list is precisely what it sounds like: whatever your greatest hopes for this project are, they go on this list. In an ideal world, your property will allow for all these plans. Your local county zoning regulations will dictate, for example, the number of horses allowed given the acreage of the property. Additionally, most counties have different regulations depending on whether you are planning a private stable or intend to build a commercial boarding operation. A good realtor should be able to help ensure that the property you choose is properly zoned for your equine intentions.
However, not every realtor is well-versed in such things, and sometimes it’s in your best interest to ask for professional help to make sure the property zoning and your dreams align. An equine facilities designer (me!) is qualified to advise you on exactly such issues and restrictions. Your next step is to take the physical elements on your wish list (e.g. number of stalls, grooming spaces, tack rooms, arenas, etc), with the zoning in mind, and work out a square footage for each item. This was you can start to see the actual size (and therefore basic cost) of your intended program. By establishing the size, your budget can be reshaped as the buildings and landscape layout evolve. These items from the wish list should also be prioritized as you move forward, so that as costs and time constraints begin to incur themselves, you can ensure your most important items of the program are solidified.
2) Are some designs more expensive than others?
Holly – No – just type of construction. The expense comes we you move that design from paper to concrete, steel, and timber.
The different types of construction are where the major cost variation enters a project. This is why the design process is key, for that’s when you can thoroughly explore all your options, especially with the help of a professional. The same preminary plan can be cost out in different structural scenerios. Whether you want the clean panel look of an MDBarnmaster system, or traditional block or wood frame, you can meet your budget by adjusting the structure and finish materials.
3) Is there a “safe” barn?
Holly – Safer, depending on floor plan egress and materials.
No quotation marks needed! There are certainly safe and safer barns. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true, but many things can be done to both prevent unsafe barns and increase the security of existing structures (e.g. fire retrofit). Safety must be a key point in the planning conversation from the start, for it ties into everything from the floor plan, planning for (escape) routes and fire truck access to the property, to the choice of materials for building and outfitting. As we looked at before, MDBarnmaster buildings, and Masonry structures are inherently more likely to resist fire than other options. [For more information on this specifically please see Blog post by Holly Matt on Fire Safety]
4) Do my horses prefer a certain type of barn?
Holly – Light and airy
Light and airy all the way. Imagine, would you be happier being lead out of your lovely green and grassy field into a dark, dusty cubby, or a light, well-conditioned, safe space? Having a barn the horses themselves find comfortable is key, as they are the ones that will be, very literally, living in it. This is far from just a question of aesthetics. “Light and airy” also implies a barn with good ventilation, a key factor in keeping your horses (and your own!) respiratory systems as happy and healthy as possible.
5) OK. What is step 1?
Holly – You’re plot design and wishlist is number one. Without these two elements, we can’t design the barn.
