Extraordinary 3-Story Berkshires Barn Home Is the Ultimate ‘Retro’ Retreat

A one-of-a-kind barn home surrounded by 72 rolling acres has been put on the market in the Berkshires for $4.5 million—complete with a spread of unique amenities and a rich architectural heritage.

Located in Sheffield, MA, the exceptional legacy compound boasts a five-bedroom primary residence, a two-bedroom guesthouse, an in-ground pool, a gazebo, tennis courts, and a screened hut overlooking a pond.

But the pièce de résistance is the towering three-story barn structure that serves as the main house on the property and was designed by Tician Papachristou, the business partner of acclaimed Hungarian-German architect Marcel Breuer.

Papachristou designed the property at the request of his son Alex, to serve as a retreat for three generations of his family—creating a “timeless” abode that remains a true multigenerational sanctuary to this day.

“Tician Papachristou was well known in Boulder and worked with Marcel Breuer, [the] famed Hungarian-German architect known for his work in the Bauhaus movement,” says listing agent Jen Harvey of Compass.

“Tician’s son Alex in the ’90s said to his father, ‘If I fund it, will you build a home?’ So they got a builder, and Tician designed the home for his three-generation family.”

Completed in 1998, the 4,700-square-foot open floor plan features vaulted ceilings, skylights, glass block details, expansive windows, wood paneling, exposed beams, and three fireplaces.

“The coolest thing about it is that even though it was built in the ’90s, it feels like the ’70s, which was Tician’s inspiration,” Harvey says. “It has a retro vibe that doesn’t seem to go out of style. It also has a standing seam roof, so it’s really timeless.”

The sun-soaked interiors feature skylit central stairs that lead to a midlevel kitchen with a dining room and fireplace nook.

“The home has a lot of natural light with oversized picture windows that face west,” she adds. “It has gorgeous views of Mount Washington, and in the summer it greens up, offering lots of privacy.”

Four bedrooms designed for guests and extended family are located on the lower level along with a laundry room.

A third-floor primary loft suite with a soaking tub and walk-in shower has a private terrace to soak in the views and a kitchenette ideal for morning coffee.

“The primary suite is insane,” Harvey says. “It spans the entire top floor of the house. It’s truly magic with 18- to 20-foot ceilings.”

Other highlights include an atrium living room with a coffered ceiling and fireplace, a cherry-lined study with a private porch, and a cozy family room overlooking the private lot.

“An older couple with grown kids and grandkids could buy it, or the buyer could be a younger family,” she says. “It’s the perfect home for a large family. I think it will probably be used as a secondary residence, but I hope primary because it deserves it.”

It is ideally located in a rural town in the Berkshires that’s minutes away from the New York border and popular ski resorts, including Catamount Mountain Resort and Jiminy Peak.

“By right, in Massachusetts, you’re permitted to build another structure on property like a studio or pool house,” Harvey notes. “It’s located on a nice country road, yet is 12 minutes to Great Barrington and Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, which is like a local Whole Foods.

“Sheffield is full of protected land, so there is lots of hiking and biking and farm stands. The house is also close to the center of town.”

Harvey notes the picturesque property boasts solar and battery systems for “low-impact electricity usage” as well as a two-car garage and gym shed.

“The pool is so cool, and there is also a huge gorge and an amazing stream on property,” she adds. “You can swim or paddleboard in the pond. You could totally host a wedding or other grand-scale event on the property as well.”