ICAA
About ICAA Contact Resources Search Professional Directory Sponsorship Press Privacy Policy
  • Education
    • Continuing Education
    • Summer Studio
    • Professional Intensives
    • Workshops
    • Christopher H. Browne Drawing Tours
    • New Heights
    • Certificate in Classical Architecture
    • Forum on Education
    • Resources
    • All Educational Programs
  • Articles
    • Stories
    • Videos
    • ICAA News
    • Press
    • All Articles
  • Calendar
  • Travel
  • Honors
    • National Awards
    • Regional Awards
    • Prizes
    • Scholarships
    • All Honors
  • Books
    • The Classicist
    • Classical America Series
    • ICAA Library
    • Digital Rare Books Archive
    • All Books
  • Chapters
  • Membership Donate

    Mad About Cows

    By ICAA President Peter Lyden

    January 13, 2015

    Peter's Reflections A monthly column by ICAA President, Peter Lyden

    (Image: Daily Mail)


    I hope you are as mad about cows as I am. You see, a country estate or farm is not complete without dairy cows and the magnificent barns that house them.

    The current issue of Tatler magazine reported:

    "From the Queen down, the cream of society is obsessed with bovine ungulates. And making cream, milk, and yogurt, too, and sometimes beef. And some want to breed the glossiest cows in the country to boot, to make their neighbour jealous to win first prize at the Royal Norfolk Show."

    There was a time in our own history that dairy cows and their magnificent dairy barns were very much de rigeur, as a vital part of the life of a “Gentleman Farm.” These farmers would breed dairy cows not only for their milk and cheese, but also in an effort to seek the blue ribbon at the local fair.

    To keep their champion cows in their rightful setting, prominent families commissioned well-known architects of their day to create magnificent barns. There are many examples of these outstanding buildings but my favorites are those found at Shelburne Farms in Vermont.

    Shelburne Farms, Vermont (Image: Don Shall, Shelburne Farms Flickr Pool)


    Dr. William Seward Webb and his wife Eliza Osgood Vanderbilt Webb asked their friend, the great architect Robert H. Robertson (of the gothic revival church of St. James in New York City) to build their farming estate in Shelburne with great emphasis on the need to have magnificent barns. These cathedrals of barn architecture are worth visiting and revisiting.

    Billings Farm, Vermont (Image: TripAdvisor)


    Other fine examples of dairy barns can be seen at two Rockefeller estates, built around the same time as Shelburne. One must visit Billings Farms in Woodstock, Vermont where the Swiss cows are still the prettiest around, as well as Kykuit’s barns in Pocantico Hills.

    Deep Dene Farm, Old Chatham, NY (Image: Peter Lyden)


    In my own garden I can view one of the Hudson Valley’s magnificent dairy barns at Deep Dene Farm, Old Chatham. This was one man’s solace from his busy life on the Gold Coast of Long Island to seek peace and happiness on his dairy-breeding farm. Thankfully my new neighbor will be restoring this magnificent structure.

    Locusts-on-Hudson (Image: Wikipedia)


    There are many success stories in restoring old barns to new glory:

    • Stone Barns at Pocantico Hills, which has been restored as a restaurant and center for food and agriculture.

    • Hotelier Andre Balazs, today’s gentleman farmer, restored dairy barns and farms at Locusts-on-Hudson.

    • Classicist leader Prince Charles reinvigorated his dairy operation and farm buildings at High Grove. His Royal Highness even insists that his cows listen to BBC Radio when they get milked.

    • Our own ICAA member John Murray restored a noted Pennsylvania barn, relocating it to Old Chatham, NY. The barn completes the magical setting of his family’s home.

    • Finally, one must visit Abby Rockefeller’s new dairy barn complex in Churchtown, NY (nearly complete). The new construction by architect Rick Anderson is a modern palace for dairy cows, which also includes a shop where products will be sold to the community. There is a round structure at one end of the complex so the cows can get exercise in the winter!

    Churchtown barn complex, New York (Image: Rick Anderson)

    Churchtown barn interior (Image: Rick Anderson)


    I encourage the ICAA community to help restore barns of all types, from the grand and magnificent, to the simple and modest. New barns also help “complete the setting” alongside homes and landscape. Slowly, we hope to see these barns – and cows – dot our landscapes once again.

    - Peter Lyden, ICAA President

    Share:

    Related Articles

    On the Road

    April 18, 2018

    A Holiday Message from ICAA President Peter Lyden

    December 18, 2017

    Arcadia in Acadia: Touring the Architecture of Bar Harbor and Mt. Desert Island, Maine

    September 25, 2017

    Back To School: Touring the New Residential Colleges at Yale

    August 9, 2017

    The Timeless Inspiration of Two Water Gardens: Studley Royal and Villa d’Este

    June 20, 2017

    By ICAA President Peter Lyden

    January 13, 2015

    Related Articles

    On the Road

    April 18, 2018

    A Holiday Message from ICAA President Peter Lyden

    December 18, 2017

    Arcadia in Acadia: Touring the Architecture of Bar Harbor and Mt. Desert Island, Maine

    September 25, 2017

    Back To School: Touring the New Residential Colleges at Yale

    August 9, 2017

    The Timeless Inspiration of Two Water Gardens: Studley Royal and Villa d’Este

    June 20, 2017

    Sign up to receive information and announcements about upcoming programming, awards, and more.

    Thank you for subscribing to the ICAA's newsletter.

    Please enter a valid email address.

    By sharing your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
    • Education
    • Articles
    • Calendar
    • Travel
    • Honors
    • Books
    • Resources
    • Professional Directory
    • Become a Member
    • Donate
    • Chapters
    • About ICAA
    • Contact
    • Sponsorship
    • Press
    © 2018 Institute of Classical Architecture & Art. All rights reserved. 20 West 44th Street, Suite 310, New York, NY 10036
    Terms of Use Privacy Policy