Studio Retreat

Situated at the rear of an existing mid-century ranch-style residence in the Lower Garden District, this studio and guest pavilion provides temporary quarters for visitors and permanent space for the owners’ creative endeavors. This design focuses on blurring the line between interior and exterior space as an environmental experience. The existing yard is a lush garden, lovingly cultivated year-round by the owners, who spend a significant amount of time outside.

Included within the program is an expansive studio with concealed storage for guitars, — which doubles as pin-up space — and built-in display storage for LPs, which also serves as a bench with cabinets for a turntable, receiver, and flat files. Within a serene bathroom lies a custom cypress vanity, mirror, and wardrobe, as well as a marble-clad shower and bench with an infinity-edge window to further dissolve indoor/outdoor separation. The soaring studio space is proportioned for maximum filtered light and acoustic performance, and is designed for playing both live instruments and recorded music.

Oversized sliding glass doors and smaller operable windows encourage cross-ventilation, while a bathroom skylight allows for proper venting. A dual-height, low-slope standing seam metal roof responds to programmatic needs and existing building conditions. Interior elements include seamless, epoxy-coated floors and wood lath as a wall finish, bringing visual warmth and acoustic absorption to the space. Exterior Ipé wood siding and blown-in insulation improve the building’s thermal envelope, while custom metal window and door frames add to the bespoke quality of the project.

Location 1519 Camp Place, New Orleans Completed 2014 Size 600 sf