Rowdy Meadow

Synopsis

"The house . . . serves as a magnificent showcase for an important collection of design, from the Arts and Crafts era through today." - Architectural Digest

Welcome to Rowdy Meadow, a visionary house that is a complete work of art, from its architecture, interior design, furnishings, and collection of contemporary art to its landscape architecture and private sculpture park. Inspired by Czech Cubism, it is unlike any other house, anywhere. Designed and decorated by Peter Pennoyer Architects in Hunting Valley, Ohio, it is a structure of tremendous complexity made to feel simple and calm by Pennoyer's mastery of the language of this style - a short-lived movement notable for its use of prismatic forms.

Inside, Anne Walker guides the reader through the house, room by room, showcasing furnishings spanning the Arts and Crafts era through Art Deco, with pieces by Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, Josef Hoffmann, Dagobert Peche, Eileen Gray, and Gio Ponti, fine art by Walton Ford, James Lee Byars, and others, as well as bespoke installations so expertly woven into the design that they virtually become part of the fabric of the house. She discusses the Reed Hilderbrand-designed landscape and sculpture park - with works by Anish Kapoor and Andy Goldsworthy - spread throughout the 146-acre property. Illustrated with photographs taken throughout the seasons by Eric Piasecki that capture Rowdy Meadow's unique detailing, imagination, and energy, as well as with renderings and drawings, the book itself is an extraordinary achievement.

Summary

Rowdy Meadow tells the story of a young girl and her adventures of adjusting to her new home in a small rural town in Iowa. It is a tale of growing up and learning to be independent in a place that doesn't have the same opportunities as bigger cities and towns.

Chapter 1

In the first chapter, 12-year-old Paige Frohman moves with her family from Chicago to Rowdy Meadow, Iowa. She is overwhelmed with all of the changes and has difficulty adjusting. When faced with the unfamiliarity of her new home, she has to quickly learn to become independent and rely on her own resources to make the most of her new situation. For example, she soon learns the local customs and traditions from her friends and neighbors, such as collecting sap to make maple syrup and participating in the town's annual cattle drive.

Chapter 2

In chapter two, Paige manages to make some friends and begins to appreciate the beauty of the rural town. She connects with some of the other young people in the town, like the Hanson family, and joins their weekly bible study group. They all bond over their love for the environment and share their stories and experiences with each other. Paige also discovers her passion for animals and starts rescuing injured or ill animals from around the area and nursing them back to health.

Chapter 3

In chapter three, Paige learns more about the town’s history and how it shaped the people of Rowdy Meadow. She discovers how a mysterious fire destroyed some of the businesses in the area many years ago and that many of the townspeople still mourn the losses. She meets a local historian, named Carl, who tells her all about the town’s past and how it shaped its present. Paige decides to take a deeper interest in the history of her new home and she begins researching and writing stories about the history of Rowdy Meadow.

Chapter 4

In chapter four, Paige and her family start to adjust to their new environment and Paige finds ways to connect with the community. She sets up a small animal rescue center in her family's barn and begins working closely with a local vet, Mike. She organizes fundraising events to raise money for animal care and learning to spay and neuter animals. She also joins other members of the community in helping to restore the old cemetery that holds the unmarked grave of one of the town's founders.

Chapter 5

In the final chapter of Rowdy Meadow, Paige reflects on the past year and all that she has experienced. She comes to terms with her feelings about growing up away from the city and her family and friends. She takes it upon herself to be a voice for the environment and the animals of Rowdy Meadow. She throws a fundraising event for her animal rescue center and uses her newly acquired skills to help preserve the old cemetery and give voice to the town's history. In the end, Paige finds that Rowdy Meadow is not so bad after all and she has come to terms with her new home.