Artist’s Studio In Thornbury

Artist’s Studio In Thornbury
© Folded Bird Photography

ARTIST'S STUDIO

Chan Architecture

ARCHITECTS
Chan Architecture

LOCATION
Thornbury, Australia

PROJECT YEAR
2014

DESIGN TEAM
Anthony Chan, Michelle Ng

PHOTOGRAPHS
Folded Bird Photography

MANUFACTURERS
Tait Flooring

BUILDER
Dick Reynolds Building

LANDSCAPE
Phillip Johnson Landscapes

STRUCTURAL ENGINNER
Richard Linguard Consulting Engineers

BUILDING SURVEYOR
Wilsmore Nelson Group

Text description provided by architect.

This project is an artist's studio in the backyard of an existing house in Thornbury, which was done in collaboration with Phillip Johnson Landscaping.

Artist’s Studio In Thornbury
© Folded Bird Photography
Artist’s Studio In Thornbury
© Folded Bird Photography

The brief was to create a beautifully detailed, creative space for painting and sculpturing that would encourage and inspire creativity.

The studio was to sit comfortably within an organic landscape design which included a natural pool that did not require chlorine, a waterfall and creek, which was to provide a recreational space for the children.

The external materials chosen for the studio were all natural materials with an emphasis on timber that would silver over time, making it blend in with the timbers, water and rocks of the landscape.

Artist’s Studio In Thornbury
© Folded Bird Photography
Artist’s Studio In Thornbury
© Folded Bird Photography

Internally, the blackbutt flooring and plywood were used on the floors, walls and ceiling not only as a robust surface for artwork, but to blur the traditional boundaries of floors, walls and ceiling so that it did not feel like a conventional residential space.

Instead, the result is a unique, sculptured space that is warm and textured, designed for indirect light ideal for painting and sculpture.

Artist’s Studio In Thornbury
© Folded Bird Photography
Artist’s Studio In Thornbury
© Folded Bird Photography

The roof of the studio was used to warm the water of the pool in the colder months, whilst the water from the roof ran down the decorative rainchain into the pool to replace the water that was lost through evaporation.

The overflow of the pool was connected to a creek that run through the backyard, connecting the different areas of the landscape.

Artist’s Studio In Thornbury
© Folded Bird Photography


Artist’s Studio In Thornbury
Ground Floor Plan
Artist’s Studio In Thornbury
First Floor Plan