Overbrook Overlook

Information

Location Overbrook, Kansas
Size 480 SF
Services Architecture
Project Type Residential

Overbrook Overlook is a farmhouse situated on a historically and family-owned farm in Overbrook, KS. It repurposes a 1960 yellow pine structure and a corrugated metal barn into a charming home overlooking the town. The exterior retains the weathered corrugated metal siding, creating a rustic contrast with the warm pine interior. The farmhouse is designed to maximize natural light and connect with the surrounding nature through high-performance H windows. It incorporates foam-in-place insulation and efficient comfort systems, aiming for Net Zero energy consumption with the future addition of solar PV. Despite its compact size, the farmhouse offers various functional spaces, including a kitchen, dining area, living space, bedroom, sleeping loft, and a recycled-material bathroom. An original crib wall preserves the historical charm and demarcates public and private zones. Adjacent to the farmhouse stands the farm’s original 1860 dry stack limestone house, which was thoughtfully reconstructed as an ancillary historic structure.

Process

Design Team — Steve McDowell and Mary Ann McDowell (Owners), Steve McDowell (Architect) Tom Simpson – Introba (Mechanical Engineer), Trevor Acorn – Walter P Moore (Structural Engineer), Mike Musak (Site / Plumbing), Frank Rhodes (Electrical), Tim Moore (Mechanical), Beena Ramaswami – BNIM (Color / Design Collaborator), Navid Jones (Dining Table), Mary Anne and Steve McDowell (Sofa, Loft Ladder), Sheldon Vogt (Casework), Shutters (Steve McDowell), Kansas Spray Foam (Insulation), Western States Metal Roofing (Weathering Steel Roofing), Lucas Koch (Stone Cellar Restoration), Cellar Window and Door (Steve McDowell), Kelly Callewaert (Photographer)

People

Team

Steve McDowell

Client

Steve and Mary Ann McDowell

Collaborators

Mary Ann McDowell, Tom Simpson (Mechanical Engineer), Trevor Acorn (Structural Engineer), Mike Musak (Site/Plumbing), Frank Rhodes (Electrical), Tim Moore (Mechanical), Beena Ramaswami (Color/Design), Navid Jones (Dining Table), Sheldon Vogt (Casework), Kansas Spray Foam (Insulation), Western States Metal Roofing (Weathering Steel Roofing), Lucas Koch (Stone Cellar Restoration), Kelly Callewaert (Photographer)

It’s like a utilitarian jewel box. The built-ins are required for such a small house and they all work logically. Laminating the entire inside with plywood was a smart decision. Clear interventions added make it great; clear thinking of old versus new adds value.

Steven Ehrlich, AIA Kansas Jury Chair