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A Detailed House, Abandoned houses, Abandoned structures, Bird, Bird house, Bird houses, Dove, Dovecot, Dovecote, England, Glass dome, Guest house, Message transfer agent, Old barns, Pigeon, Pigeonnier, Ricardo Bofill, Silo, Silos, Travel and Tourism
When we bought our land, one of the questions that was frequently asked was: are we demolishing the silos that stood upon our acreage. You see, our property was at one time farmland, so with it came an old, dilapidated barn, crumbled milking sheds and, my favorite of the structures, the silos.
For aesthetics, the prevailing sentiment was that we should take all these structures down, but I loved these structures and think too often things are stripped bare – the very things that give character. So they were staying and there was no talking me out of it.
Through the trees, they look like the turrets of a fairy tale castle – or at least that what I think – as the tan concrete has a perfect patina. I’ve frequently daydreamed of the possibilities: joining them with a guest house in between, having them independent structures, etc.
There are so many abandoned silos. Structures similar to silos but are actually huge pigeon houses, called dovecotes or pigeonniers, are now frequently left to the ravages of nature. At one time, they were part of noble estates for the dove eggs, pigeon meat and sending messages.
A structure like this:
can be used and worked into a house design.
This is a new construction guest house that was designed to look like a converted dovecote.
Beautifully restored to its original grandeur.
An old abandoned silo
A silo fitted with a glass dome (ingenious) and incorporated into a home to house a spiral staircase.
In Barcelona, Spain a cement factory was converted into the home and workspace of Ricardo Bofill in 1975.
I’ve never regretted the decision to keep our structures intact and was deeply saddened when a snowstorm dumped 3 feet of snow and the weight of it flattened our barn. There are beautiful beams and planks that I may salvage from it or just rebuild it altogether. But the silos remain. Hopefully, I will do something with them at some point, but even as is, I adore them 🙂
love! which one is the picture of your silo(s)?
I so debated about holding up the post until I got pics! It rained all afternoon/evening here yesterday, so the girls and I are going to put on boots and go down there today when it dries out a little…they will of course love it. I’ll post as soon as I get them (or find on another computer) 🙂
yippee!!! can’t wait 🙂
Looking forward to seeing yours. Also, these are outrageously beautiful and I wish such things existed here! (Toronto area)
I’m glad you think so too! I was a little nervous about this post because quite a few people said (and neighboring properties wanted us) to knock them down, that they were an eyesore, etc. I should have known by now that my readers have impeccable taste and can see the beauty in things that aren’t always shiny and new!
Glad to see you decided to keep those structure as they are magnificent.
Love these pictures. They are beautiful. We have old silos in New Jersey.
Cynthia
Wow – you’ve got the most incredible selection here. Beautiful – thanks so much.
Impressive collection of pics! Absolutely keep the all of old wood to make something new. That is traditionally done here, and it is very special and beautiful to make things from the old planks (whether you rebuild or make something new like a cabinet, frame, table, etc.).
Huh! I hadn’t thought of making furniture!! What a great idea!
I see all those pics and all I think is I want one!
I’m so glad you agree!!
Thank you for the wonderful photos !! some of those Dovecots are just so beautiful…. I want to throw out the pigeons and move in myself!!
sounds like a great idea for your silos!
I’m so glad you saved yours. I can’t wait to see the photos.
I would SO live in one of those. Or, I would renovate it and turn it into an armory for weapons to fend off vampires and werewolves… you know, practical stuff. 🙂
Are yours big enough to make a guest room?
That’s a good question! I haven’t measured them, but I would think each one is big enough for one room. I’m guess they are about 15’+ in diameter…
Could make 1st floor bathroom/closet with stairs up to a second floor bedroom…
They are so beautiful! It would be a privilege to have one on your grounds. Fabulous collection of photos.
I love that little guest house, could so live there forever 🙂 good for you for keeping your silos, I agree far too often structures are torn down taking it with the romance or dreams or even quirkiness with them
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Hooray for you for keeping the silos! What wonderful pieces of history 🙂
Thanks!!!
I wish I had a silo or, better still, a dovecote! In her book “Creole Thrift”, author Angele Parlange showed how her family converted a dovecote into a charming guest suite/study. Dreamy!
I will have to look that up! I would have preferred a dovecote – they usually are SO much better, i.e. more interesting architecturally!
I could lose about half of a workday woolgathering over the possibilities of all that high-quality salvaged lumber. I am with you, keep these structures (as long as they aren’t dangerous or don’t attract teenage miscreants). Someday, I hope to have a crumbling stone ‘homestead’ peeking out of my woods…
Just half a day? It’s a lot of wood and beams, so I could spent months 😉 I loved the bench that you and your father collaborated on and love that you kept the hesitation marks in his etching. Too perfect can boring; the beauty and story frequently lies in the imperfections!
(Structures are safe so far and access to our property is very limited/difficult)
There is no doubt I underestimated, and I am happy and humbled that you like the bench. I just acquired a slab of walnut, six and a half feet long by 24 inches, and including the Y-shaped crotch of the lowest branches. I am going to make a desk for my wife, which I have been promising for two years. Keep watching for progress, I hope you like it as much.
I think you are wise to keep the silos. I LOVE LOVE LOVE character!
Thank you!! Kiss that sweet little baby of yours!
As a lover of old, time-worn buildings, my heart skipped a few beats as I looked at these photographs! The sheer beauty and history of them makes me question why anyone would destroy them. I am thrilled to know that you are saving yours and am looking forward to seeing how you transform your very own castle turret.
Warm regards,
Grace
Thank you so much, Grace – I love that!! I am SO glad to find like-minded individuals when it comes to these old structures! Our neighborhood has a common area with an old, brick barn that was to be torn down and I wasn’t very popular as I was extremely vocal about saving what they deemed an “eyesore”. It is beautiful and finally it is appreciated and opened up for neighborhood parties 🙂