Dutchess County Artist Studio
Residential
Complete 2021
Dutchess County Art Studio is a ground-up creative sanctuary tailored to the particular needs of a couple with distinct creative practices. Nestled between the property’s tree line and lush gardens, the unconventional architecture responds to the clients’ desire for respectively private painting and ceramic studios. Employing an intentional bend in the middle of the structure, the design harmoniously follows the contours of surrounding marshes and wetlands. Economical and efficient, its triangular gable form, dark cladding, and metal-seamed roof give the appearance of the studio receding into the wilderness.
The design began with the painting studio, strategically oriented north to satisfy one of the client’s needs for consistent, even natural light throughout the day. Skylights and high wall windows flood the space with sun, allowing the painter to hang and display works on the bright-white lower walls without obstructing the light sources.
On the opposite side of the building, the ceramics studio prioritized views of the couple’s nearby residence and the surrounding forest and valley. Complete with ample storage, natural light and the necessary infrastructure for an indoor kiln, the studio backs-up to a shared utility sink and powder room in the center of the site. While the building’s materials enable its seamless integration into the natural landscape, its form achieves the concept of two separate studios in a shared space.
