Pavilion Farm Residence
New Residential | 6,000 SqFt
Central City, IA
The Team
Architect of Record: Form Function Studio
Consulting Architect: STILL Architecture + Design
The Pavilion Farm Residence is a custom rural home in Central City, Iowa, that transforms a 125-year-old heritage farmhouse into a foundational, multigenerational retreat. Through thoughtful siting, traditional agrarian architectural forms, and utilitarian design layout strategies, the residence honors its agricultural heritage while supporting current family life and the desire for future growth.
The Opportunity
Set on a working farmstead, the home was imagined to support a growing family’s evolving diverse lifestyle while preserving the legacy and charm of the original farm. The clients sought a residence that could balance modern comfort with rural practicality—one that would honor the land, accommodate daily work / farm life, and offer space for future generations. The opportunity was to create a custom home that seamlessly integrates with its agricultural surroundings and reflects the family’s deep connection to the outdoors and their land.
The Solution
The new residence was carefully sited among existing farm structures to showcase expansive views of the rolling Iowa landscape. A strong indoor-outdoor connection was central to the design, achieved through large window openings, a three-quarter wraparound porch, and a grand walkout basement that anchors the home within its prairie-like backyard. These elements support seasonal living and reinforce the home’s relationship to its rural setting.
Architecturally, the home blends traditional farmhouse forms with a modern exterior palette. Dark cultured stone, white vertical board and batten siding, and a standing seam metal roof create a visually compelling composition that bridges past and present. A canted gable softens the scale of the structure, adding refinement to the bold forms. Functionality was a driving force behind the design. An ample drive with large garage doors accommodates the client’s large trucks, equipment needs, and desire for flexibility in what the farm needs now and later. The designed procession from the drive was used as a large herb garden and seasonal plantings to welcome the family and their visitors up to the generously sized covered front porch and seamlessly designed outdoor dining and living area. These design moves were created to reflect the family’s outdoor lifestyle and love for nature.
Inside, the home follows a subdued, utilitarian, passive design approach. Large format tile in the public spaces was chosen over hardwood for its durability and ease of maintenance from the everyday wear and tear farm life brought. The carpet in the bedrooms was chosen for its ease on the user’s feet, for comfort and warmth. Honest, uncomplicated materials and colors were used throughout, allowing the home to age gracefully and reflect the lived experience of its occupants. A key feature is a secluded home office for one of the clients, a local attorney. Tucked into the far back of the lower level and accessed through multiple turns, the office provides a quiet retreat for focused work. The remaining lower level was kept unfinished to provide room for future adaptation, ensuring the home can evolve as the family grows.
The Impact
Today, the completed Pavilion Farm Residence stands as the new family heirloom—one that strengthens the family’s bond to the land, honors its agricultural roots, and offers a lasting foundation for their generations to come. What began as a compact farmhouse has evolved into a home tripling the original footprint while fully supporting the family’s rhythms of life on the land. A spacious and functional layout tailored to their needs- balancing tradition and modernity, work and rest, endurance and warmth.