A Building That Is a Part of Nature
Discreetly nestled in New Canaan, Connecticut – about 4-5 miles north of Philip Johnson’s Glass House – Grace Farms’s seamlessly integrates with the landscape of a serene and bucolic New England town. The River Building is an architectural feat designed by SANAA that sits ethereally and elegantly within the 80,000-acre land owned by Grace Farms Foundation.
Grace Farms Foundation, a non-profit organization, leads the charge in preserving open land and safeguarding the interests of both the broader community and the local Grace Community Church. Their sole directive to Pritzker Prize Winner SANAA was to create a space that aspires to advance the good in the world through a peaceful respite and regenerative platform. Specifically, Grace Farms invites visitors to experience nature, encounter the arts, pursue justice, foster community, and explore faith. Grace Farms is to be a new kind of public space that inspires those that enter its premises and to serve as a valuable resource to the local community.
It serves as a retreat for trailblazers who are catalysts for a global systemic change in some of the most pressing issues of our time. Originally a farm, around 77 out of 80 acres of the property are maintained as open meadows, woods, wetlands, and ponds. While the River Building, in line with SANAA’s portfolio, seamlessly blends into its natural surroundings. Its unassuming architecture prioritizes a harmonious relationship with nature, avoiding any ostentation. Indoors, guests can enjoy a 360-degree view of the natural landscape, appreciating the changing sun angles and seasonal color palettes while within the confines of the walls.
The River Building is an architectural feat designed by SANAA that sits ethereally and elegantly within the 80,000-acre land owned by Grace Farms Foundation.
Designed to be a part of the landscape, the River Building is ecologically sensitive with a light footprint. Visually, it follows the sinuous curves of the hills with a continuous canopy and is built almost entirely out of glass except for three other key materials which are: timber, concrete, and metal.
In this architectural feat, light takes center stage, its character shifting with the time of day and the seasons. Glass plays a pivotal role, creating an enduring sense of weightlessness and transparency. Over 200 custom-crafted glass pieces were meticulously manufactured, sealed, glued, and bent across different countries to ensure their longevity. These low-iron, trapezoidal panes feature silicon joints, a stainless-steel sash, and graceful curves. Spanning seven to eight feet wide, these unique glass panels maximize transparency, offering panoramic views of the farm.
Within the property, a remarkable 8,000 board feet of trees felled during construction to find purpose. The mixed local hardwood weaves its way into the very fabric of the architecture. It can be discovered in the sturdy beams, the elegant roofline, the soaring ceilings, and even the functional interior furnishings like tables. The warm palette within the interior spaces owes its richness to the presence of Cedar fascia and the timeless influence of Douglas fir.
In the meticulous orchestration of constructing monumental structures, precision reigns supreme. The composition of sand, stone, lime, and cement is meticulously measured, akin to a symphony conductor fine-tuning each instrument. This time-sensitive mixture has a scheduled 15-minute delivery rotation. Within this brief window, the freshly mixed concrete remains at its peak, ready to flow seamlessly into the designated forms. These forms, strategically positioned like puzzle pieces, await their concrete embrace. Whether it’s the sturdy foundation or the slabs that cradle the structure, this synchronized dance ensures that no element is left wanting. Beneath its flowing, organic roof, the structure finds stability, resilience, and purpose.
Metal, an essential component of the River Building’s design, plays a crucial role in enhancing both durability and longevity. Whether it takes the form of anodized aluminum or robust steel, this material ensures the structure’s resilience against the elements and the test of time. The most prominent manifestations of these materials are the stainless-steel sash enclosures that support the elegant glass façade and the innovative hybrid structure, which seamlessly combines steel columns with timber beams. These architectural choices not only contribute to the building’s aesthetic appeal but also underscore its strength and lasting impact.
In their unwavering commitment to achieving LEED certification standards for operation and maintenance, Grace Farms diligently works to decrease water and electricity usage. They responsibly source supplies, practice on-site composting, cultivate their own produce, and continuously restore the onsite meadows and wetlands. Additionally, they have installed fifty-five 500-foot-deep geothermal wells on the property for efficient heating and cooling.
As designers, the most gratifying compliment is when a client describes a project as ‘a reaction to what we asked for.’ Kazuyo Sejima and her team received this accolade, earning her a shortlist nomination for the Women Architect of the Year Award in 2016 and the Jane Drew Prize for Architecture in 2023; and for SANAA an architecture laureate of the Praemium Imperiale awards by the Japan Art Association.
Grace Farms offers free admission and operates from Tuesdays through Sundays. With a variety of rotating programs and exhibitions, Grace Farms proves to be a frequented destination for those who aspire to be one with nature while pursuing trailblazing paths. D+C
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