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Backyard retreats

From yoga space to home office to weekend abode, the “corn crib” is an alluring piece of architecture with variations that range from the high-end to the affordable.

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A prototype of an eco-friendly dwelling designed by architect Jeffrey Broadhurt -- known simply as the Crib, is on display at the Mansion at Strathmore in North Bethesda. Broadhurt's Crib, as it is known, is a largely prefabricated outbuilding incpired by the "corn crib," a traditional agricultural structure used to store feed.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Rockville architect Jeffery Broadhurst stands on deck of his Crib at the Mansion at Strathmore. Broadhurst designed the building to be a weekend cabin that doubles as an iconic sculpture.

Rockville architect Jeffery Broadhurst stands on deck of his Crib at the Mansion at Strathmore. Broadhurst designed the building to be a weekend cabin that doubles as an iconic sculpture.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

With its canted walls, broad-shouldered roof and pentagonal form, the Crib, as it has been dubbed, calls to mind early American farm barns built to store and cure feed corn.

With its canted walls, broad-shouldered roof and pentagonal form, the Crib, as it has been dubbed, calls to mind early American farm barns built to store and cure feed corn.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Broadhurst's reimagined corn crib is a modern shelter for people, with a floor area of 250 square feet. Front and rear decks raise the total area to 370 square feet.

Broadhurst's reimagined corn crib is a modern shelter for people, with a floor area of 250 square feet. Front and rear decks raise the total area to 370 square feet.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

The rear deck of the Crib extends the living space and is separated by a garage-style door. 'I see [the Crib] in back yards, in a 40-acre pasture, on top of a building in Manhattan, on a barge,' Broadhurst said. 'It's not just for mountain or lakefront properties. It could be anyplace.'

The rear deck of the Crib extends the living space and is separated by a garage-style door. "I see [the Crib] in back yards, in a 40-acre pasture, on top of a building in Manhattan, on a barge," Broadhurst said. "It's not just for mountain or lakefront properties. It could be anyplace."

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

The frame is made of galvanized steel beams and the roof is made from structural insulated panels clad in galvanized steel. The walls consist of translucent polycarbonate panels in an enveloping basket of heat-treated poplar.

The frame is made of galvanized steel beams and the roof is made from structural insulated panels clad in galvanized steel. The walls consist of translucent polycarbonate panels in an enveloping basket of heat-treated poplar.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

No surfaces in the Crib are painted or stained. The building is designed to close securely — to be bear-proof among other things — and to be left for long periods of time.

No surfaces in the Crib are painted or stained. The building is designed to close securely — to be bear-proof among other things — and to be left for long periods of time.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

At night, the Crib glows from within.

At night, the Crib glows from within.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Habitable cabins like Broadhurst's Crib aren't cheap; various versions range in price from $56,760 to as much as $120,000 if you're looking for a Crib with a kitchen.

Habitable cabins like Broadhurst's Crib aren't cheap; various versions range in price from $56,760 to as much as $120,000 if you're looking for a Crib with a kitchen.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Architect Sarah Deeds's 'crib' -- a small but light-filled backyard office in her garden in Berkeley, Calif. -- falls on the opposite end of the spectrum from Broadhurst's. The structure has basic lighting but no plumbing, making it less ambitious that Broadhurst's Crib, but also more affordable.

Architect Sarah Deeds's "crib" -- a small but light-filled backyard office in her garden in Berkeley, Calif. -- falls on the opposite end of the spectrum from Broadhurst's. The structure has basic lighting but no plumbing, making it less ambitious that Broadhurst's Crib, but also more affordable.

Lenny Gonzalez

A sail-shaped desk worked with the interior space, which expands to accommodate a sofa. The office is just 120 square feet. Deeds built it with her boyfriend, John McBride, a carpenter who uses the office to practice his cello.

A sail-shaped desk worked with the interior space, which expands to accommodate a sofa. The office is just 120 square feet. Deeds built it with her boyfriend, John McBride, a carpenter who uses the office to practice his cello.

Lenny Gonzalez

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