Design Challenge:

‍To design a train barn to house a quarter-scale steam engine and train cars, evoking the aesthetic of industrial-age train stations while blending seamlessly with its whimsical and storied surroundings.

Physical Context:

‍Located on a secluded residential property in Sonoma County, the site features a blend of nostalgic and unique elements, including a quarter-scale railroad and village, a classic car garage, and a train station. The train barn needed to harmonize with this distinctive setting while maintaining its functional purpose.

Solution:

‍The train barn was constructed as a highly customized pre-engineered steel building. Its trusses were meticulously designed with back-to-back steel angles and rivets, replicating the industrial-age charm of historical train stations. Buried partially into the surrounding landscape, the barn accommodates the railroad at one level while integrating seamlessly with an upper terrace on another. Authentic details, such as station-style lighting and functional steam engine exhaust smoke stacks, complete the design, creating a structure that is both practical and evocative of a bygone era.

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