Chatham Farm

Situated within a broader project comprising a main house, a guest house, and a pond pavilion, this farm occupies a central position on the 80-acre property. During the design and construction of the main residence, the clients developed a focused interest in animal husbandry and livestock, as well as the greenhouse production of fruits, vegetables, and flowers - pursuits they now anticipate will define their retirement. In response, the landscape architects organized a system of pastures for sheep, chickens, goats, and miniature donkeys, arranged to frame a processional path leading to a natural spring-fed pond. Along this path, we designed a custom greenhouse and a fully functional polycarbonate-clad livestock barn, developed in collaboration with Rimol Greenhouses. They are sited as a paired agricultural complex and a destination within the landscape. The translucent skin of the both structures allows diffuse light to bathe the interiors, supporting year-round growing and animal care, while at night they register as softly illuminated lanterns in the field. Although the clients had neither commissioned a ground-up house nor worked in agriculture prior to this project, the site and its architecture translated an initial impulse into a joyful and productive farming vocation. What began as an escape from the city has evolved into a working farm and the beginning of a new life in the countryside.