Cows will have a better quality of life thanks to a transparent barn designed by La Shed Architecture.

A large agricultural barn with polycarbonate sheeting walls was constructed for a farm in Montérégie, Quebec, by the architecture studio La Shed Architecture.

In order to improve the overall quality of life for both the animals and the employees at organic cheese farm Au Gré des Champs, the studio in Montréal designed a barn.

La Shed Architecture chose to construct the barn out of materials that are commonly found on farms in order to create a structure that would blend in harmoniously with the surrounding landscape.

The spruce framework of the building was constructed, with hemlock planks serving as the walls. It is made of twinwall plastic sheet , one of which is clear and the other translucent.

The decision to build the barn with a translucent exterior was based on the belief that natural light improves both well-being and productivity.

According to Samuel Guimond, one of the studio's architects who worked on the project, these translucent facades allow visitors to make the connection between interior spaces and exterior grazing spaces, and thus better understand the cows' living environment.

According to the architect, during the day, the walls let in so much natural light that it feels like you're outside, while at night, the barn is lit up like a lantern, giving the impression of being inside.

By day, he explained to Dezeen, it feels like he is outside.

Nighttime results in the reversal of this effect, with the artificial light illuminating the interior of the barn filtering through the translucent walls. As a result, the barn serves as a landmark in the middle of the fields, similar to a large luminous lantern.

double wall polycarbonate was also used by La Shed Architecture, as it allows the internal structure of the wall to be seen, contributing to the barn's contemporary appearance.

The overhanging roof, which provides shelter for visitors when the farm hosts events, was constructed from galvanized sheet metal.

Large shutters on the longitudinal walls allow for natural ventilation, and in the winter, the space is heated by the cows' own body heat, which helps to keep the temperature stable.

In addition, the studio had to consider technical constraints associated with free-stabling, such as the need for large spaces for the cows as well as specific routes for milking cows.

According to Guimond, the farming family desired to improve the quality of life for both their cows and their employees.

For the cows, the construction of this new barn signaled the end of tie-stall housing, in which cows are confined in stalls; instead, they would now operate in free stalls, which would allow them greater freedom of movement, he explained.

For the employees, the new barn should provide them with a more spacious, bright, and pleasant environment in which to work.

In addition to working within the confines of the available space, the studio had to consider the habits of the barn's new occupants.

Guimond explained that in order to facilitate the movement of the cows within the building, a route had to be designed in accordance with the order of the tasks to be completed during the day. Cows thrive on consistency and routine.