Sawtooth Studio
A new hybrid studio/garage typology for a suburban artist
Location Dalhousie, Calgary Size 500 sq. ft Status Completed
Status Completed
A space to find one’s art
The Sawtooth Studio is a convertible art studio / garage designed to maximize both usable wall space and natural light. The sawtooth roof form creates surfaces for north-facing clerestory windows, while the vaulted ceilings and exposed truss structure add character and warmth to the space.
The design strategy for the interior is to create multipurpose and moveable components. These modular ‘blocks’ provide a variety of storage options for tools and supplies, which can be moved wherever the artist likes and allows them to get creative with the workspace.
Embedded in the ground behind the studio, an intimate courtyard extends the workspace to the outdoors. In the summer, the studio opens its doors to allow the light and cool air to flow in and in winter, the snow in the courtyard reflects soft natural light into the space. The courtyard allows for full height windows and doors on the north side of the building to provide consistent and diffused sunlight that is ideal for making art.
The wall texture is broken up by concrete at the base to mark the ground plane and white washed fir plywood above to brighten and visually enlarge the volume of space. The roof is outsulated to allow the glulam beams and plywood sheathing to be exposed.
The project was designed to have many nooks and crannies for material, media storage, and the client's commuter bicycle, as well as providing spaces to hang paints on the doors to the utility and powder room.
A napping nook is incorporated above the kitchenette and accessible by a rolling ladder.
