The Accessory Studio is a studio office space built as an “accessory building” on the owner’s residential property. It was designed to create an interactive environment that suited the client’s working style. It is functional and comfortable, a single space where all can participate in daily happenings.
Details
The structure is nestled into the corner of the residential property on a steep site. As a result, the building is modest from the street but generous inside. The public entry is onto a mezzanine level of cedar and glass. Large glass doors slide open to a garden and fountain that act as an extension to the workspace three seasons of the year.
The studio itself is designed with tall ceilings, natural light throughout the day, carefully framed views, and durable materials like black concrete floors that meet the demands of a busy design studio.
This studio demonstrates a commitment to a modern workplace where, as strange as it may sound, dogs, children, and bare feet actually improve the quality of work being done.
Process
The form of the building is a pair of folded L-shaped roofs that mirror each other in section and step up with the topography. The roofs follow the interior floor elevations to meet zoning requirements, to discreetly address the building’s street front, to reduce the overall building height, and to preserve view corridors for the uphill neighbours. The design creates a quiet non-invasive form on the public side and a lofty bright space from the lower garden. The intersections of the roofs and walls are glazed to clarify the roof composition and material intersections and to compose views and day-lighting for the interior space. Windows are carefully framed to filter public access and views to the garden. Large sliding doors open the corner to the garden expanding the workspace onto the large decks in good weather and turning the office space into a garden pavilion in summer.
Recognition
AIA – Small Project Award, 2009
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AIBC – Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia Award in Architecture – Merit, 2004
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