Nasami Farm Whatley, Mass
Posted
09/9/2011
The New England Wildflower Association chose to build a new
visitor and education center at the Nasami Farm located in
Whatley, Mass. A key component of the design was that the
structure would reflect the agricultural history on which the
center was built. Originally the site of tobacco plots and barns,
the design of the new visitor and education center remains rooted
in the past while placing a modern interpretation on the
traditional agricultural barn.
The structure replaced an old unheated green house. Featuring a
wood shingle exterior and a
standing-seam roof, architect Daniel Bernstein of Architerra Inc.,
Boston, looked to the East for
inspiration in reinventing the space as he notes, "We added to it
a little Japanese character with its
overhanging eaves."
The Japanese inspiration continues throughout the design and the
structure remains unique due
to its lack of rain gutters. "The building has no gutters. When it
rains the water drips from the eaves
onto Japanese gravel and perforated pipes that carry the water
away from the building to irrigate
plants," adds Bernstein.
The building retains a natural feel both outside and inside as
two large ventilators on the standingseam
roof provide induced natural air conditioning into the building.
To create a rustic look with
a modern twist, U.S. Metal Roofing of Holyoke, Mass., installed
12,000 square feet of Perth Amboy,
N.J.-based Englert Inc.'s Series 1300 standing- seam metal roof
panels in Dove Gray. The end
result is an old-fashioned barn featuring a modern standing-seam
roof with wood accents.
The LEED Gold certified structure houses the visitor and
education center as well as staff offices.
Inside the center are radiant heat floors and 7 inches of wall
insulation in two layers with additional ecological assets designed
by Architerra.
Visitor and Education Center, Nasami Farm, Whatley,
Mass.
Owner: New England Wildflower Association
Architect: Architerra Inc., Boston
Metal installer: U.S. Metal Roofing, Holyoke,
Mass.
Metal roof panels: Englert Inc., Perth Amboy,
N.J., www.englertinc.com