Page 60 - Spring_2019

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anticipated, but they saw value in redoing the
small structure they had and making it visually
more interesting.”
That’s when they and the clients engaged
Teass\Warren Architects with the goal of transforming
the little-used garage into a studio that would also become
the garden’s focal point when seen from the glassy, modern
addition. Through conversations with the clients and the
landscape team, Teass\Warren began to explore the
notion of a sanctuary space that could play host equally
to a painter and a yogi, which formed the basis for the
artist’s retreat.
The landscape interventions to which the architects
were reacting include a sloping site demarcated by a series
of small terraces. Walls of reclaimed, dry-laid granite block
hold these terraces back, though these walls almost
disappear in summer and fall when flowers and foliage are
at their peaks. Moody emphasized the layering effect, both
in terms of elevation change and in density of planting.
With a rich palette of flora—in addition to the
canopy of Pinehurst Park, visible from the property—
Teass\Warren sought to capture as much of that view as
possible. The retreat sits at the southernmost corner of the The building before renovation. Courtesy of Teass \ Warren Architects
property, which allowed the architects to open up the
northern sides of the studio to admit dappled daylight. sibling to its uphill counterpart. At the base of the series
Above the French doors of the entryway, a dormer of terraces, granite pavers form a level landing that leads
interrupts the roofline to welcome additional light from to the studio entrance, and a bench incorporated into the
the northeast, while the gabled northwest edge frames two property line wall at the retreat’s northwest edge combines
triangular windows that prolong sunset’s golden hour. with its wall of windows to suggest an outdoor room.
Within the studio, which is a little more than 400 Above the bench, vertical granite bands echo the rhythm
square feet, exposed fir planks and beams line the of the studio’s window spacing.
underside of the roof, providing a feeling of warmth What the team has created is a jewel within the garden.
ignited by sunlight entering through the double-height Where an underutilized garage once accompanied an
glazing. Uplights on the wooden ceiling are reflected undifferentiated hillside lawn, there now stands a proud
back into the open work area, although they can be companion building, the path to which emphasizes the
adjusted to highlight artworks hung on the studio’s back connection between old and new. Warren avoids over-
wall for more formal gallery arrangements. The dormer, aggrandizing the feel of the retreat, but still refers to it as
in addition to adding sculptural interest to the exterior a special place where the owners can escape the quotidian
and admitting more light to the interior, amplifies the grind and the feel of the city. “We came on board to give
perceived volume of the space within its tight footprint. that structure some presence and design it to reflect back
As an added benefit, Teass\Warren designed the studio onto the landscape,” he said. “It was an interesting process,
with the potential for retrofit as an accessory dwelling unit because that’s not normally how we’d go about it.”
or “granny flat” in mind. In its current state as an oil For Moody’s part, leading the project from the
painting studio, however, ventilation was a priority, as landscape side isn’t all that uncommon, as both he and
well, so the architects included operable windows to take in partner Jay Graham, FASLA, have backgrounds in
aromas from the garden, favoring lavender over linseed. architecture. “If there’s a moment where we think a
“For us, the piece that stuck with us was that it was this project is more likely to succeed, or where an architectural
lantern we could create in the landscape,” said Charles intervention could lead to a better project, we like the
Warren, AIA, LEED AP. “It was really the idea that it’s dynamic of having another perspective,” Moody said.
this glowing structure you could see from the house that Through their collaboration, Teass\Warren and Moody
also provides high quality of light for the studio space.” Graham may have created the best room in the house—
The studio’s exterior material palette of brick, copper, even if you have to walk a bit down the garden path
and slate borrows from the vocabulary of the main house to get there.
on the property, making the retreat something of a little

58 ARTIST’S (RE)TREAT