A Barn Saved in the Kansas
Two simple buildings in Kansas show how to build lightly and reuse what lasts.
All photos by Kelly Callewaert.
Just outside Kansas City, architect Steve McDowell has turned a patch of woodland into a quiet family refuge. On this rural property stand two structures worth getting to know: a compact cabin called Overbrook Overlook, and an 1860s barn he moved and rebuilt by hand.
Overbrook sits in eastern Kansas, where oak and hickory forests meet open prairie. Summers run hot and humid, winters can dip below freezing. This pocket of woods feels remote, but you’re only about a 30-minute drive from the heart of Kansas City.
The overlook cabin was designed by BNIM, the firm McDowell co-founded. It’s a simple shed form, just 500 square feet (46.5 square meters), perched on a slope with a cantilevered deck that hovers over the hillside. Inside, the space works as a studio, guest room, or quiet hideaway. Large windows pull in views of the forest and natural breezes.
From the designer:
Despite its compact size, the farmhouse offers various functional spaces, including a kitchen, dining area, living space, bedroom, sleeping loft, and a recycled-material bathroom. An original crib wall preserves the historical charm and demarcates public and private zones.
Next door, the old barn has its own story. McDowell bought it from a farm 60 miles (96 km) away, took it apart piece by piece, and rebuilt it as a rustic workshop and retreat. Original beams and siding stay on display, and deep porches tie it back to the land.
For travelers, eastern Kansas surprises many with its rolling hills and wooded creeks. Small towns nearby, like Lawrence and Overbrook, offer simple diners and antique shops, and Kansas City’s museums and jazz clubs are close enough for a day trip.
Takeaways for your own build
Keep it flexible: A simple, open plan lets a small cabin handle guests, work, or quiet time.
Respect the site: Build to follow the slope and disturb as little land as possible.
Salvage when you can: An old barn can have a second life with careful dismantling and reconstruction.
Focus on durable finishes: Metal roofing and fiber cement siding keep upkeep low for decades.
Use nature as a tool: Big windows, roof overhangs, and cross-breezes handle Kansas heat without needing a big mechanical system.