Go through any rural setting just about anywhere in Canada, and there will be numerous examples of aging and derelict barns. Some of these structures are still in use but most have been left to the elements, slowly sagging into the ground. For many, these buildings are so much a part of the landscape, they tend to be ignored or viewed as eyesores.
However, these buildings are now becoming popular for a number of reasons. Many of these buildings are finding a new purpose as restored dwellings, turned into offices or studios, protected for their historical significance or torn down and the wood recycled.
Old Barns as a Source of Eco Friendly Wood Products
Reclaimed wood is environmentally friendly as a recycled product. There is a large international business in reclamation lumber from old barns. However the market in reclaimed wood products has yet to be exploited in North America as effectively as it has been in Europe, where reclaimed wood products are more highly prized, due to their scarcity.
Beyond its green kudos, reclaimed wood has properties that are in some ways superior to newly milled wood. It is aged in a way that cannot be manufactured or chemically reproduced. The patina of the aged wood is highly valued, being weathered by decades of harsh winters, blazing summers and lashed by rain and snow.
Some European interior designers are using salvaged wood from Canadian barns in innovative ways. They are turning the wood into chic flooring, wall panels for upscale urban homes, stylish cabinets and kitchen cupboards and even outdoor sheds and cabanas.
Some architects are experimenting with reconstructing or refurbishing old barns into homes, offices or multipurpose buildings. The Artscape Wychwood Barns in Toronto were originally a series of maintenance buildings, used by the Toronto Transit Commission, and converted into offices and meeting spaces for a number of non-profit organizations.
Heritage Conservation
For some, the loss of these old barns is not without controversy. In the United States, there are many groups actively campaigning to restore and preserve these buildings as part of the country’s pioneering and farming history. Concern regarding the loss of these buildings has spurred several individuals and organizations into action. For further information, see this Suite101 article.
In Canada, various municipal, provincial and federal heritage organizations can help with assessing the merits of preserving older buildings including barns. Organizations such as The Heritage Canada Foundation provide resources and funding to assist with preserving historic and local architecture. Unique examples, such as the round barns in Quebec are well worth a visit, and the folklore surrounding these buildings is just as interesting as their practical and efficient design.
However, not every old barn is worth saving. Some may be too far beyond repair or restoration, some may not have been well built or may have to be leveled due to safety hazards or to make way for other buildings.
Whether these buildings are deemed worthy of restoring or are torn down for scrap materials, it is good to see that these old barns are used in diverse, stylish and responsible ways.
Wendy Foster-DeGroot - Wendy has a BA(Hons) in Art History. She works in academic research administration in Canada. While living in Newfoundland in the 1980s, ...
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