What a joy it is as an architect to find clients with a collaborative spirit! Such a ‘marriage’ is sometimes overlooked as architects may bring complete vision and leadership to a project or owners have unswayable opinions or ideas already firmly in mind. Such a collaborative relationship came my way in 2013 when owners Julie and Jeff sought me out for my previous work with farmhouses.
Wanting to relocate, resettle and begin a new venture in the wedding business, the couple bought a farm in Scandia, MN with an existing farmhouse in need of rescue, along with numerous outbuildings in various states of repair.
Before
After
Our relationship began with the restoration and revival of the original white farmhouse including completion of a gray detached garage-outbuilding. The finished project became their new 1,800 s.f. home in 2015.
Now living on site, the couple had me out to visit an old, white barn for sale on a neighboring farm a few miles away. After agreeing on its potential, Jeff enthusiastically had the historic barn lifted and moved to their farm and sat it on a new foundation centrally located on the farm. Once in place, he then transformed the barn into his first wedding venue, and the couple opened their business, Redeemed Farm, a Vineyard Estate.
The barn is now in place, beautifully renovated and proudly painted traditional barn red. I have been fortunate to work with Jeff and Julie on a few additions to this barn as well as other out-building related projects for their venue.
In 2018, the couple had another grand idea for the site. They wanted an additional venue option in the form of a new building to sit in relationship to the red barn on the site of a metal pole barn that we had removed.
Metal pole barn to be removed
What better farm aesthetic than to interpret a ‘Stable’, painted white like the farmhouse and serving as a chapel-inspired structure for celebration and gathering.
In excited agreement to the concept, I set forth designing the Stable at Redeemed Farm and along with Jeff and Julie, fine-tuned all details creating a dramatic central space with light sharing cupolas, oversized barn doors opening to the vineyards, specially designed and site-built roof rafters to define and order the spaces and a glass end wall flooding the room with light and view.
Seating 175 people, the space still feels as intimate as a chapel and as farm appropriate as the barn. Since June of 2020 it has hosted numerous weddings, gatherings and celebrations of all kinds, making memories for families across the entire region. Circling back to our first project together, the farmhouse and porch also serve as photo backdrops on wedding days!
Now in 2024, I’m still working with Julie and Jeff designing a second home for them on a nearby river site while they remain as busy as ever with the wedding venues. If anyone needs a place to exchange vows, or celebrate an occasion, look no further. Our project at Redeemed Farm exemplifies a ‘Stable’ Marriage indeed!