What is a T-shaped farmhouse?
A T-shaped farmhouse (Dutch: T-huisboerderij or T-boerderij) is a farm of the aisled hall-house type in which the living quarters (front house) stand crosswise in front of the working part (rear barn). Seen from above, the two parts form a T. House and barn each have their own roof; where they meet, a valley is formed.
The crosswise front house gave the farmer a broad, representative facade facing the road or dyke, with more room for living spaces and often a more richly detailed front. The barn behind stayed a standard aisled barn with a central nave and side aisles. The front house is usually about as wide as the barn, or wider.
T-shaped farmhouses are common in the river area of Gelderland, such as the Betuwe and Bommelerwaard, and also occur in the Veluwe, Utrecht and elsewhere in the Netherlands. Many date from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and a number are listed monuments.
In practice
- Check the listing. Find out whether the farm is protected before planning changes; listed buildings need consent.
- Mind the valley. The junction between the two roofs is the most vulnerable point. Inspect the flashing and the timber beneath regularly for leaks and rot.
- Respect the barn structure. The timber frames carry the roof. Do not remove posts, tie beams or braces without structural calculations.
- Insulate internally with care. Behind historic facades, internal insulation is often chosen; watch for moisture build-up and involve a building physicist.
Common mistake: “completing” the T with an extension that spoils the recognisable silhouette. Planning and heritage advisers usually object.
Related terms
- Transverse-house farmhouse
- Aisled hall house
- Farmhouse
- Longhouse farmhouse
- L-shaped farmhouse
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