Located in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, the Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill remains one of the best preserved examples of a Shaker community in the United States. A Utopian community which thrived in Pleasant Hill from 1805-1910, the Shakers were a paradoxical culture. In short, the Shakers believed that work could be a form of worship and prayer so that through physical labor they would become closer to their God (Christian). They valued technological advancements, social and racial equality, free universal healthcare, and education for all members. Not to be confused with the Amish, the Shakers were as embedded in popular American culture as they were distanced from it, buying and selling goods with non-members to support their way of life and using technology as a means to do so. Not only did they use electricity and machines, but they also invented them. Although their appearance of humbleness places them within a category of what one may consider “traditional”, they were in practice “contemporary”.

If here today, the Shakers would utilize contemporary construction systems, building materials, and digital modeling tools in their design process. As makers of things, the Shakers would also incorporate the making of physical things in this process as to be evidence of their devotion. Ultimately it is important to see the Shakers for their efforts in making a communal living experiment and for their addition to contemporary design practices and discourse around things “minimal”. (Studio Introduction, Jordan Hines).

Our task was to create a “culinary center” as an addition onto an existing historical building, The Trustee’s Building. This building is currently being used as a formal restaurant with catering functions and guest rooms in the upper floors. The current committee at Shaker Village desired an addition that would provide casual dining, outdoor dining, and a new large kitchen. The current kitchen is located half upstairs, half in the cellar space. They aim to move all kitchen functions to the addition and utilize the cellar for “tavern dining”.

Thus, we were faced with the question: what does it mean to “add” with historical context?

A NEW APPROACH: Entry has been re-routed to the glass transition between the historic trustee’s building and the new addition. This creates a more direct approach for visitors, rather than one’s initial view being a rear service entrance. The addition greets visitors upon approach.

INDOOR DINING: An open, light, double-height space. When the warm and beautiful weather comes, the front bottom window slides up to connect inside and outside. A loft, accessed by a spiral stair, is the perfect place for private dining events. Anywhere you sit, you are greeted with views of the beautiful rolling hills of the countryside wherein Shaker Village finds itself. An indoor/outdoor bar area serves both interior dining and outdoor events.

OUTDOOR DINING: Terraced limestone gardens with two wood-burning fireplaces create a cozy and lush atmosphere in the currently bare landscape outside the Trustee’s Building. A sloped lawn leads up to a small stage for outdoor events.

KITCHEN: The true heart of the culinary center, the kitchen, spans inside the lowest level of this addition. Egress windows and patio access fill the space with natural light, and 12-foot ceilings provide the room necessary for a pleasant workspace. These were ensured as the current kitchen functions are cramped, dark, and hidden. This expansive kitchen center houses both restaurant and catering functions, as well as vast storage space, offices, employee rooms, and bathrooms. The kitchen is accessed by both stair and elevator (private for workers).