There’s no denying that nature is the perfect place for tapping into our creative side. Having said that, I wonder what will be the ideal space that will provide both shelter from the elements as well as keep us in-tuned with our surroundings… This small studio space is all that and more. Its simple, unpretentious design makes a bold statement yet blends with the surrounding rural landscape.
Tucked away in a wooded area in Spring Prairie, Wisconsin, this intimate retreat serves as a studio for a Country Western musician to write and record his music. Its contemporary design consists of three major elements: A concrete podium is carved into a steep hill, providing storage space as well as support for a simple rectangular volume – a linear studio space cladded by a weathering steel cover, with floor-to-ceiling glazed openings on each end which provide access and frame views.
On top of that, the structure consists of two well-defined outdoor spaces; one is a green roof, and the other is a covered porch created as a sheltered outdoor extension of the interior studio space.
The third element assumes the shape of a narrow strip of clerestory windows, which allow the studio volume to seemingly float above its base. During the day, natural light streams into the storage space below, while at night, it emits a soft glow into the dark landscape.
Locally sourced materials, like exposed concrete, steel, glass, and wood, have been chosen to age gracefully over time. The steel envelope’s warm color of ferrous corrosion has its own individual charm, both modernly industrial yet ever changing.
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