The architecture of the studio and outhouse is a direct reference to the ​main house​ that we completed in 2013. We played with finishes to create a more rustic feel, but the forms borrow from the idea of a primary volume wrapped by a porch. Hierarchically the outbuilding defers to the studio and outhouse. We took advantage of that by creating a building that is more modern and utilitarian.

Much of the success of the project is owed to the landscape and the precise siting of the buildings, which provide prospect and refuge. The porches draw you in, creates a platform for viewing, and, in the case of the outbuilding, frames a vignette through the trees. Upon arrival you are drawn inside.​

Within the studio, there is a deep level of comfort that stands in contrast to the surroundings. The building plays beautifully through all four seasons, but with a fire crackling, there’s no better place to be on a cold, wet day.​

This was one of the few rare opportunities we have had to design a structure on such a small scale, and one created essentially for fun and exploration. The project called for discipline and an efficient use of space. The studio loft ladder is one feature that exemplifies this.​

The ladder was necessary to access the sleeping loft, but when in use, it takes up valuable space in the small living area below. To resolve this conflict, we designed the ladder to lift and stay in place for most of the day. A counterbalance offsets its weight, becoming a fixture in the loft above, while the ladder itself disappears seamlessly into the structure spanning the room.​

When the client asked for one more building to house a writing studio, storage, and firewood, we demurred on the concept and opted for a building that erases its identity and masquerades as a stack of firewood. The outhouse had to be the last of the original concepts. The firewood building is designed to be first perceived and approached axially, allowing perspective to hide the building.