Center Upcycled from Old Barn

Lori Zimmer reports on inhabitat.com:

Rhinebeck Jewish Center is getting a cheerful new green home that will be upcycled from a historic barn.

Designed by Yeshaya Shor, the new synagogue will recycle wood salvaged from an existing barn, giving it new life in a community center.

Coupled with green technology such as rainwater collection and passive heating and cooling, the new building will be a welcoming and green place of prayer.

The colorful community building was designed by Shor, who graduated from the Architectural Design program at The New School for Design under the guidance of Professor Peter Wheelwright.

Both a synagogue and a community center, the space will be a warm place where the people of Rhinebeck can gather, socialize, learn, and pray.

The initial plan for renovating the existing 100-year-old barn on the RJC property fell through when Shor and his collaborators found the structure to be beyond repair.

But rather than starting from scratch, the team decided to give the new center the spirit of the old barn, carefully disassembling it and repurposing the materials into the new project.

The new barn was designed to welcome visitors both inside and out, forming a natural courtyard that can be an used as an extension during warmer months.

Lori Zimmer reports on Read full article: