The Eckert’s project reveals the nature of representing an architectural surface as a literal and non-idealized system. The organizational logic of lines and pattern are a means to draw a surface in space. Line and pattern are developed from repeated wood slats in the three story atrium in the Eckert’s project. Each slat is read as a line while the collection of lines generates a pattern. The assumption of pattern as decoration generates a simultaneous perception of surface and ornament. The resulting architectural entity forms an oscillation between reading line, pattern and surface. The blurred reading is further nuanced by the repetition of the wood slats having a gradient spacing dimension. The elements vary in density according to perspective where they are denser closer to the people in the lobby at the bottom of the atrium. The spacing increases further up the atrium in the area for perpendicular views through the wood slats. The materiality, dimension, and spacing recalls the nature of performance inherent in agricultural buildings where gaps between wood strips that define surfaces promote airflow to move through a surface. The slotted porous surface is separated spatially but connected visually, aerodynamically and thermally to all spaces within the building.

Eckert’s Farm is a well-established family owned and operated farm with many locations around the mid-west. As the operation continues to grow and acquire other farms, the need for more office space became apparent. The Belleville farm and store is the original location and headquarters of operations. The office space will be built as a renovation within an old agricultural building on the farm. The existing exposed heavy timber column and beam structural system creates a mood and utilitarian sensibility to be preserved. The renovation is on the second floor of the building while the first floor and third floor will be primarily storage. The main entry to the building is on the south side on the first floor. The renovation will remove a large freight elevator that has long been decommissioned. The shaft will become an atrium space that visually and physically connects the entry to the main office space as well as the storage above. A new stair will connect the entry to the second floor on the edge of the atrium space. On the second floor, the board room will overlook the atrium space with a glass wall. The atrium and new stairs will be lined with wood slats that were recovered from an old corn crib. Thus, the patina on the existing and new elements will talk about the history of the farm.

Client: Eckert’s Country Store & Farm
Location: Belleville, Illinois
Size:  3,700 sq.ft (344m2)
Design: 2016
Construction: 2018

Design: Open Source Architecture / Chandler Ahrens