E
lements
of Good Barn Design
The Courtyard Barn
By Georgia Hickey, Equine Facilities Design King Construction Company
The courtyard barn enjoys more universal appeal than any other style, and with good reason. There is something very welcoming about the courtyard entry and, with the addition of some landscaping and a few garden benches, it also provides a nice space to relax after a ride. The courtyard barn is well-suited to many different architectural styles and details, so it looks equally at home in New England or in Florida. And, in addition to its aesthetic appeal, the courtyard barn is wonderfully practical and adaptable. One of the major benefits of a courtyard barn is that it will stable a large number of horses on a fairly compact footprint and, just like a kitchen with a working triangle, a courtyard barn saves staff time and labor by centralizing the work areas, while it offers the horses more peace and quiet during their down time. Every horse has an outside window or Dutch door for increased natural light and ventilation, along with decreased boredom (especially for those facing into the courtyard because they can also see their neighbors in the opposite barn wing). In a large facility of 20 horses or more, the two barn wings can be an ideal arrangement to maintain two separate operations, i.e. one wing for the owner and another for a trainer. The support areas, such as tack rooms, wash stalls and grain rooms, can be duplicated, while service areas, such as laundry facilities and bathrooms, can be shared. A courtyard barn can easily be attached to the indoor arena, either directly down one long side or by using a rear connector. With a direct attachment, the cross aisle between the two barn wings will be longer, and there is an opportunity to place a lounge or viewing room on the common wall. (see photo of Epic Farm’s floor plan). When the barn is attached with a rear connector, the arena can be attached on the long side or from the gable end, and there’s a logical space for the lounge or viewing room at the junction of the arena and connector. The tack rooms and wash/ 36
grooming areas will also move to the rear connector, so the cross aisle between the barn wings can be shortened. Although at least one of my courtyard barn projects had no loft (hay and bedding is stored in a separate building) most are lofted. Hay lofts above the barn wings save time and labor with hay drops into the stalls, and they keep the barns warmer in the winter. By adding ventilation shafts that can be opened in the summer, the barn will stay cooler as hot air is evacuated and air exchange is increased. Of course, each stall should also be fitted with a fan. The cross aisle and/or connector are usually designed without lofting, which keeps the wash stalls more open and less likely to retain moisture; adding a fan to the wash stalls is also important. The photo of Epic Farm’s courtyard illustrates the appeal of this style barn. Completed in mid-2014, this barn looks just right for its New England location, with classic board and batten siding accented with cedar shingles and wide board trim. When the cobblestone pavers, landscaping and garden benches are installed this summer, this courtyard entry will become an added living area. The photo of Beacon Woods Stables illustrates the flexibility of the courtyard barn for wide-ranging architectural design detail. With its stone and stucco exterior and hipped roof gable hoods, the barn at Beacon Woods has a distinctly European flair. A study of the floor plan for Epic Farm reveals the true value of the courtyard barn for a larger horse operation. Each of the two barn wings houses 10 horses, and each horse has a Dutch door with large window and full steel screen for great natural light and full ventilation in the warmer months. The fully finished ceilings in the barns are at 11 ft, so there is always good air movement.
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