Silver Spring's Barn 2 - Integrated Project Dossier (2019)

The Silver Spring Barn 2 was built in 1867 in the Ottawa Valley’s region which was known for its rich soils. It was owned by the Bearman Brothers which were second generation Irish settlers. It is currently used as a residence and workplace program for the mentally and physically disabled by the Association for persons with Developmental Disabilities. The farm now produces 40 000 garlic cloves a year. It has been recognized as a federal heritage building since September 28, 1989 and is the only designated National Capital Commission (NCC) barn in the Greenbelt. The sale of spring water is done at the farm as well. In 1989 the farm was deemed a Recognized Federal Heritage Building. The barn was built with the same scientific designs used for farm buildings at the time. Due to many of these buildings falling apart or being torn down for modern barns, the ones on Silver Springs Farm have not only lasted all these years but are also still functioning. While the barn has undergone restoration, the original foundation and materials used during its construction still remain, keeping the structural and aesthetic properties that make the barn an important example of 19th Century rural architecture. Alongside the barns historic value is its architectural value that helped make it a heritage building. From the layout of the barn to the materials put into it, everything was thought out, intentionally or not, to present the structure as a unified whole. By laying out the different barns into one shaped as a “U”, is a design aspect used to adapt to the changing extremes of Canada’s climate condition. In recent years, Ontario’s Greenbelt has been under threat. The Greenbelt helps prevent urban sprawl from getting out of hand as well as gives Ontarians access to local food and water. While Silver Springs Farm is just one of many in the Greenbelt, it plays a vital role in the community. The farmland keeps urban areas from expanding, gives back to the community with its program for Ottawa and District Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities and grows then sells garlic right on the farm. This is the Integrated Project Dossier compiled by a group of undergraduate students of the Architectural Conservation and Sustainability Program (Engineers and architects) at Carleton University for the CIVE3207 (ARCN4100) Historic Site Recording and Assessment course in 2019.