THE SANCTUARY
The World of Masonry and Masonry Construction Magazine have recently honored The SANCTUARY as one of 6 top masonry projects world wide at their International Design Conference in Las Vegas.
The SANCTUARY is an 1,800-acre wildlife refuge, private estate and residence located along the Mississippi Flyway in rural northwest Illinois, dedicated to habitat restoration, conservation, education and research. This unique property, a privately funded Wildlife Foundation, is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation dedicated to the long-term restoration of habitats and the judicious use of our natural resources.
Habitat Management and Development, Prairies, Wetlands, Cool Season Grasses, Tree Plantings, Food Plots and Agriculture Plantings, Woodlands, Vegetation Manipulation, the Lakes, Nesting Surveys, Insect Studies and Collections, Turkeys Waterfowl and Bird Nest surveys, Herpetological Creek Fish and Mammal surveys, Whitetail Deer and other ground animal studies, and the Herbarium Project are just some of the ongoing research and educational projects undertaken by the Foundation on the property.
ENDOWED IN TRUST FOR PERPETUITY
The owner, in his generous gentle and kind wisdom, has recently bequeathed the entire property in trust to his Family Wildlife Foundation. To ensure the preservation of this wonderful land and building complex, he has also endowed a fund to perpetuate forever the running of the research, study and conservation programs already established. The Conference Center Building, a natural stone centerpiece of this wildlife refuge plus the entire 1,800-acre parcel of land are now secured for generations to come.
DESIGN CONCEPT
The unique granite stonework and landscape boulder walls of the property are extraordinary. The millwork, casework, ceiling and wall paneling were all specially designed and fabricated from kiln dried and milled black cherry wood trees, harvested and selected from the heavily forested property.
Tranquil, enchanting and spiritual. The primary design goal for the Dirsmith Group was to carefully craft a building and landscape environment that would blend into this marvelous piece of land, respecting the natural landscape, existing lakes and trees. Our client's father had actually bought much of the original property during the Great Depression. He started a program with the WPA and Boy Scouts and planted over 30,000 trees on this gently rolling Illinois farm land.
THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Initial considerations focused on preserving the natural beauty; how to site the basic structure; the preservation of the trees; overlooking the ponds with their nightly arrival of waterfowl; the solar orientation; sunsets across the water; the mile of road that would have to be run into the location chosen; and the thought that whatever was eventually to be built should look as though it had been there forever.
CHOOSING THE STONE
Five kinds and character of stonework were chosen for various uses in this project ...
A. Landscape and Retaining Wall Boulders ... very large-scale natural, uncut
B. Columns and Piers, Boulder Stones ... natural and uncut
C. Fireplace Interior ... rugged and natural, hand cut to design
D. Fireplace Exterior Mass ... rugged and natural, cut organically to fit design
E. Stairs, Floors, Decks and Exterior Paving ... honed, polished, flame-textured and cut to fit design
The character and feel of all the stonework had to appear very natural, as though the stone had simply been gathered up from the same farmers' fields. Granite was chosen over all of the other types of stone for its permanence and ability to collect in a tight range of color and texture, mostly in shades of a medium-warm gray.
The effect had to suggest that the building simply grew out of this beautiful natural landscape. The huge landscape stones had to be in scale with the 1,800-acre property, nestled into the landscape, shores of the lake and around the base of the buildings, cascading up into the enormous fireplace mass, blending into the numerous retaining walls. One of the first such stones set in building the approach driveway was about the size, shape and color of an elephant.
THE MASTER MASONS
The team of stone masons included Dominick Linari, Master Stonemason, Enzo Fiorenza, Fernando Benassi and crane man Louie Bernardi. They were all old world craftsmen, Modenese Italians, of incredible artistic and technical skill.
RECOGNITION
The Museum of the National Academy of Design and Fine Arts in New York City has recently acquired for its permanent collection, a portfolio of 102 prints, drawings and photographs of the work of The Dirsmith Group, that includes 14 of THE SANCTUARY. The Dirsmith Group is honored to have been a part of this uncommon project.
For more information ... See Hi Res Movie:
http://www.dirsmithgroup.com/MOVIES/SANCTUARY_NEW_2_2.59Min.mov
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How to Build with Stone. Thin Stone from Connecticut Stone. Produced by Kaplowe Studios.by kaplowestudios26,865 views
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