Ballman Khapalova designed the house on a hillside, on the foundation of a dilapidated garage built in 1950, reusing existing elements as much as possible, such as a cistern for utilities and a partition for tools. The floor is made entirely of CDX plywood, which also covers the studio walls to ensure durability, flexibility, and a restrained appearance.
The office, with large, high-rise windows, offers spectacular views and appears to float above the landscape. The sloping roof follows the slope of the land, so the glass walls face downward to provide greater privacy from the neighboring houses. The home is equipped with solar panels on the south facade to maximize light and reduce environmental impact.
Anchorage Road Artist Studio by Ballman Khapalova. Photography by Ballman Khapalova.
Description of project by Ballman Khapalova
The Anchorage Road Artist Studio is a 680 square foot painting studio and office for artist Natasha Sweeten. The goal was to create an economical and efficient building that opened up to north and south light for different tasks, in turn maximizing connection to the surrounding landscape and creating a private, protected space for creative work.
The Studio is positioned on a steep slope next to a recently renovated 1800s farmhouse, creating an entry courtyard for both buildings framed by mature trees. Its roofline follows the natural slope of the topography as it drops away, concealing the building mass from the direction of neighboring properties, while creating an ideal space for solar panels on its south-facing facade.
The studio floor is a continuation of the exterior courtyard, so as the ground drops away, the interior space of the studio begins to float within the landscape, overlooking a dramatically sloped backyard, neighboring fields, and the Hudson River beyond.
The floor is entirely CDX plywood, which also covers the walls of the studio so that it may remain durable, flexible, and unfussy. A north-facing clerestory illuminates the space for painting while allowing for complete privacy.
Behind the east studio wall is a double-height storage space, where framing was left exposed to serve as shelving for miscellaneous painting implements. This storage space extends to a bathroom area with a toilet, a shower, and a utility sink, all of which are illuminated by light from floor-to-ceiling windows on the south façade.
The office features the most dramatic connection to the view, with a sitting area and work desk seemingly floating in the landscape.
The studio was constructed on an existing foundation of a dilapidated 1950’s garage, repurposing an existing cistern to house mechanicals. A hanging wall for tools, a bench for firewood storage, and the entrance to the new storage space within the foundation fit within the piers that support the south face of the new studio.
