Prairie Haven Residence
New Residential Concept | 4,500 SqFt
Riverside, IA
The Prairie Haven Residence is a custom modern farmhouse in Riverside, Iowa, designed to support multigenerational living rooted in faith and hospitality. Through thoughtful site strategy, thoughtful, honest materials, and flexible gathering spaces, the home offers a timeless sanctuary for family, community, and legacy.
The Opportunity
Set on twenty rolling acres, the clients sought a custom-designed home that would reinterpret the traditional farmhouse through a contemporary lens—creating an enduring and adaptable environment for a growing family. The opportunity was to design a residence that could serve as both a private retreat and a community gathering space, reflecting the rhythms of rural life and spiritual practice.
The Solution
The site strategy was central to the design. Lawns were left to grow naturally, softening the edges of the built environment and reinforcing a sense of place. The architecture blends traditional farmhouse forms with contemporary connections with traditional materials and modern detailing. Three gabled volumes clad in slate shingles are anchored by limestone bookends, while a low-sloped roof structure clad in horizontal nickel gap siding connects the forms and creates a rhythmic architectural flow
Inside, the home is organized around a central living and dining space, where exposed structural, wood trusses and expansive glazing create a warm, open atmosphere. The adjacent kitchen is scaled more intimately, with a lowered ceiling and cozy seating area designed for morning coffee and prayer. This space overlooks the prairie and tree line to the south, offering moments of quiet reflection at the start of each day.
The connector between the garage and main living space serves as a functional passageway, linking public and private zones while reinforcing the architectural narrative of movement and transition. Faith and community are woven into the design through gathering spaces of a covered outdoor patio, which opens seamless back to the living room via bi-folding glass doors. This flexible space supports post-worship meals, concerts on the lawn, and ministry events—allowing the home to expand and contract with God’s ministry and calling for the family.
Future plans for the lower level include a generous gathering space for extended family and friends. This area will support game-day viewing, casual hangouts, and additional living quarters as the family grows.
The Impact
The Pavilion Farm Residence reinforces a deep sense of place and purpose, blending traditional farmhouse forms, timeless materials, refined craft and detailing. Rhythmic connections between structures create visual harmony across the site and a natural flow throughout the home. Inside, light and warmth define the atmosphere—a welcoming space for gathering, reflection, and daily worship.
Each morning invites coffee and prayer overlooking the prairie, where expansive windows frame the landscape and turn the architecture into a lens for the outdoors. Circulation paths link public and private areas, guiding movement through the home while reinforcing its story of rhythm and transition. Faith and community are woven into the design, allowing the home to expand and contract with life’s calling.
