Heavy traffic areas should be well sloped and drained and have a protective, non-slip surface that is appropriate for the use and the locale. The barn should be located with good access to electricity and water and be situated so that there is room for future addition if desired. There should be convenient access from feed storage to the barn and from the barn to exercise and training areas. Many traditional designs and techniques have stood the test of time but new materials and innovations are worth considering. In warm climates, an inside aisle isn't essential, so many southern barns are simply single rows of stalls which open to outside pens or runs.
Cold climates require inside access to the stalls.
A very simple and popular style consists of two rows of stalls which face each other and are separated by an inside aisle. Closed barns are either uninsulated, insulated, or insulated and heated. Heated barns are expensive and an unnatural environment for horses and tend to result in more respiratory illnesses. Insulation prevents condensation by keeping the temperature of the interior walls the same as the air inside the structure. The overall shape of your barn is usually decided by the roof type and whether you plan to have a loft in your barn.