Tour a Southwest Style Barn with Living Quarters

Get a closer look at Matthews Cutting Horses in Turkey, North Carolina.

Situated in a small east coast town, this high-end equestrian facility and residence boasts a timeless design. GH2 Equine Architects provided master planning and design services for this project which was completed in 1996 – fast forward to 2020 and the design is still on point.

The inspiration for the complex was drawn from both Southwest and Prairie style architecture, modified to accommodate North Carolina’s warm and humid climate. The main components include materials such as CMU block and stucco walls, a mixture of heavy timber and steel beams, with a standing seam metal roof system.

The brand-new facilities included a 10-stall barn, covered arena with covered cattle pens, plus a spacious 3,000 sf apartment with views of the farm and a balcony overlooking the indoor arena.

The stall fronts and windows are a custom design fabricated by Lucas Equine Equipment.

The barn’s layout includes a central aisle with stalls at each end and an aisle at the center connecting to the covered arena. Other amenities within the barn include an office area, wash and veterinarian spaces, feed room, tack room and laundry area.

Tack areas are conveniently located near the covered connector to the arena.

Living Spaces

Living spaces are located above the center area of the barn, above the covered drive thru, and terminate at the balcony overlooking the indoor arena. The master bedroom and porch overlooking the property include windows into the barn at the cupola in the center of the barn.

Other spaces include a master bathroom, master closets, kitchen, dining room, and living room.

One of the project’s biggest challenges was successfully integrating the home within the barn. Careful consideration had to be made for fire safety and separation to keep both horses and humans safe.

Covered Arena

The lounge area above the covered arena is part of the apartment, which is accessed from a spiral stair in the office or a staircase near the covered drive thru. The lounge area, off of the apartment’s living room, includes a kitchenette and radiant heating panels for colder months.