3. Artist Studio

Hidden entirely amongst densely growing trees, the positioning and shape of the building, which is essentially a rectangular, cedar-shingled shed, carefully responds to its site conditions. The building was placed in such a way as to leave all existing trees around it, the east wall gently curving, inflected by a hundred-year-old oak tree growing on the site. A stepping-stone footpath leads to a discreet, corten steel-canopied entrance at the north-east corner of the building. Standing at the entrance, the scale of the studio is deceptively small. Inside the continuous open space, a sloped ceiling rises over the double-height painting studio to house a generous mezzanine that serves as the drawing studio. A custom millwork unit for drawing and storing supplies, complete with a small sink for wetting paper, extends horizontally across the mezzanine level. Downstairs, the washing area and storage space are tucked away behind the stair, leaving the painting studio completely open and unobstructed. The artist’s activities called for the specific requirements of indirect lighting; on the northern wall, large, wood-framed windows and glass doors open to an outdoor sculpture court, also facilitating the transport of large artworks and materials.