Skinnergate Art Studios
Perth, Scotland
The brief requires working art studio space for three fine artists and living for one and their partner. The basic needs of an art studio are to be lit primarily by north and artificial light and not to have direct sunlight interfere. The living space needs to be integrated with the working space yet feel separated to allow a break from work.
Historic City Entrance
Site Entrance
Perth, Scotland
Located in the cultural centre of Perth is Skinnergate. A quiet, semi pedestrianised mixed-use street. It is one of the main roads used to reach Perth concert hall but in the past, Skinnergate used to lead to one of the main entrances of Perth through the historic city wall back in the 1700s. This gave Skinnergate its name, skinner coming from the use of this city entrance by animal skinners north of the city.
Key Moves
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Create a separation from the existing
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2. Maintain existing passage through site and retain resulting loss of volume.
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3. Angle living volume to create separation from circulation
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4. Create openings to maximise solar gain in living areas and north light in studios
Investigating Light
A plaster model details how light will interact with the building's key themes of the building proposal by creating vertical and horizontal planes recessed from one another, allowing the internal volumes to be lit by light wells. The light wells create a wash over the walls, highlighting the material's natural texture.
Living Space
Developing Space
A 3D model allows a further understanding of the internal volumes and external appearance. The use of lightwells in the proposal effectively provides soft lighting for the working studio spaces. Direct lighting is limited to living spaces only on the western side of the proposal.
Living Space
Stair Well
Temporary Gallery
With the brief's requirements of a small temporary exhibition space, the proposal features a portable wall that can convert part of the studio space into a gallery where clients can exhibit their work to the public.
Castellation Facade
As a homage to the history of Skinnergate, the facade features a castellation inspired facade with the spaces filled with glazing to continue the play on old and new.
West Elevation
Environmental Strategy
The proposal aims to be a passive house. It does this by using photovoltaic panels, rainwater collection for toilets, grey-water heat recovery etc. The placement of openings to the south and closed facade to the north help to maximise solar gain while minimising heat loss.
Framing
The stone arches combined with the light well allow the artists to paint their subjects in the archway, using the direst light to cast shadows on the subject.
