all images © Dean Kaufman

Grace Farms is a welcoming new place, where a building designed by SANAA is seamlessly integrated into 80 acres of open space for people to experience nature, encounter the arts, pursue justice, foster community, and explore faith. A diverse natural habitat in the northeast corner of New Canaan, Connecticut, this former horse farm is home to numerous varieties of flora and fauna. Approximately 77 of the 80 acres will be retained in perpetuity as open meadows, woods, wetlands, and ponds. Grace Farms will be the new center for nature, arts, community, justice and faith, will open October 9, 2015 with two days of special performances, public talks and family programs. The opening celebration will present the core initiatives of Grace Farms Foundation, which established the center in New Canaan, CT as an 80-acre gift of open space. We had announced this project with the construction photos -please check it out also with renderings. 

Grace Farms’ purpose-built, 86,000 sf multi-use building is designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning firm SANAA to blend almost transparently into the surrounding woodlands, wetlands and meadows, with a landscape design by SANAA in collaboration with OLIN. Structurally, the building of glass, concrete, steel and wood is in essence a single long roof, which seems to float some 10 to 14 feet above the surface of the ground as it twists and turns across the landscape. 

SANAA explains that ''our goal is to make the architecture of the River become part of the landscape without drawing attention to itself, or even feeling like a building, with the hope that those who are on the property will have a greater enjoyment of the beautiful environment and changing seasons through the spaces and experience created by the River. Under the continuous roof are five transparent glass-enclosed volumes that can host a variety of activities and events, while maintaining a constant sense of the surrounding natural environment.''

construction photo

''One of the compelling thing about SANAA is the way they use glass to break down barriers between people. Using glass in this way helps redefine how people share spaces'' adds Sharon Prince, Grace Farms Foundation President. “Collaborating with Grace Farms Foundation and SANAA on this project has been highly rewarding,” says Yuko Hasegawa. “The concept of Grace Farms is unique. I believe it will serve as a great example of how art, architec- ture, nature and meaningful programs can all come together to inspire people.” 

model view

model view-2

model view-3

> via Grace Farms