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We Can Dream: Ultimate Sports Barn
This newly built barn in the upper Northeast features a private bowling alley, basketball court and movie theater
The entrance foyer features a pink balloon sculpture that was a vision of the homeowners, who are avid art collectors. The piece was custom-made by Jean-Yves Lechevallier and shipped from Europe and assembled on site. The sculpture is hung from a remote winch that allows the sculpture to be lowered for ease of cleaning. The sculpture is lit from a multitude of wall sconces, downlight fixtures and directional can lights as well as the natural light filtered into the space from the cupola above.
Bowling Alley and Snack Bar
The sports barn features a lofted main floor and a basement below. “We placed the bowling alley and the movie theater on the lower level,” Carty says. “These spaces need minimal natural light and it also helped reduce the mass of the structure aboveground.”
The walls in the bowling area are a mix of painted rough plaster and wood timbers. The bowling lanes feature wood floors and the adjacent lounge is carpeted. Fusion Bowling supplied the bowling alley equipment.
The sports barn features a lofted main floor and a basement below. “We placed the bowling alley and the movie theater on the lower level,” Carty says. “These spaces need minimal natural light and it also helped reduce the mass of the structure aboveground.”
The walls in the bowling area are a mix of painted rough plaster and wood timbers. The bowling lanes feature wood floors and the adjacent lounge is carpeted. Fusion Bowling supplied the bowling alley equipment.
Carty designed a custom wall of cabinets made out of steel and wire mesh to create a snack bar. A long table made out of reclaimed wood surrounded by industrial bar stools and a lounge area with a leather sofa and coffee table provide great perches to take in a bowling game.
Browse industrial bar stools
Browse industrial bar stools
Home Theater
The home movie theater incorporates both the cottage feel with chestnut timbers and cabinetry as well as the industrial vibe of the neighboring bowling alley with dark acoustic treatments and leather seating. Carty says designing the home theater presented several challenges. “We had to create enough ceiling height for the tiered seating while maintaining enough circulation space without disrupting sightlines from the projector to the screen.”
The home movie theater incorporates both the cottage feel with chestnut timbers and cabinetry as well as the industrial vibe of the neighboring bowling alley with dark acoustic treatments and leather seating. Carty says designing the home theater presented several challenges. “We had to create enough ceiling height for the tiered seating while maintaining enough circulation space without disrupting sightlines from the projector to the screen.”
The movie theater has carpeted floors, acoustic fabric wall panels and an acoustic fabric Starlite ceiling panel system. DC Home Systems provided the audiovisual equipment.
Basketball Court
Carty says building a basketball court in a residential structure isn’t a typical request. “The acoustics created from a dribbling basketball and many running feet isn’t replicated in many other instances within a residential building.” The design team suspended the wood floor above a concrete slab. Above the slab, rows of kinetic spring vibration isolators help to reduce noise.
Carty says building a basketball court in a residential structure isn’t a typical request. “The acoustics created from a dribbling basketball and many running feet isn’t replicated in many other instances within a residential building.” The design team suspended the wood floor above a concrete slab. Above the slab, rows of kinetic spring vibration isolators help to reduce noise.
Pingpong Table and More
As if a private bowling alley, movie theatre and basketball court weren’t enough entertainment for one family, a spacious game room on the first floor features a pingpong table, tabletop soccer, a basketball pop-a-shot and an electronic pinball machine for hours of indoor fun.
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Great Game Setups for Snowbound Days
Simple Pleasures: Game Night Done Right
As if a private bowling alley, movie theatre and basketball court weren’t enough entertainment for one family, a spacious game room on the first floor features a pingpong table, tabletop soccer, a basketball pop-a-shot and an electronic pinball machine for hours of indoor fun.
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Great Game Setups for Snowbound Days
Simple Pleasures: Game Night Done Right
Barn at a Glance
Who lives here: A sports-loving family
Location: Upper Northeast
Designers: Robert Carty of TMS Architects (architect) and Arleen Dvorine of Dvorine Associates (designer)
The owners of this property in the upper Northeast have used the property’s existing cottage as a home for their family. The property serves as the family’s retreat from their busy schedules, so they wanted an additional entertainment space to relax and enjoy treasured family time together.
The homeowners requested that architect Robert Carty create a barn-like structure that would complement the look and feel of the existing cottage. “They wanted to create a place for recreation games,” Carty says. “This is reminiscent of an old game hall at a summer camp.” The exterior of the sports barn, above, mimics the look of the existing main cottage with its steep copper metal roof, painted cedar siding and trimmed locally sourced stone veneer.