Archipelago Workshop’s recently completed design studio was recognized by the AIA Santa Barbara as an Honor Award winner in the 2016 Design Awards competition. Bento Box reflects the combined craftsmanship of the entire project team, made up of local artisans and makers:

Structural Engineering | Thom Hume, Thom Hume Design Engineers, 805.543.6311, www.thengineers.com
Framing | Mike Davis, Davis Brothers Construction, 805.218.4397
Cabinetry | David Oliver, 805.612.0416
Steelwork and Windows | Hassan Oushani, Golden Hammer Design, 310.569.2822
Concrete | Gary Novian, GN Concrete Construction, 805.340.6520

This studio loft takes advantage of an extra-long residential lot and progressive zoning that supports in-fill. Inspired by Japanese cabinetry that honors both craftsmanship and the contents they protect, we used a simple geometry to maximize both volume and utility. The space is connected visually and physically to the outdoor deck and yard via a large glass pivot door, and can be easily re-arranged for working, reading, sleeping, and entertaining. It is also connected, in the spirit of wabi-sabi, to the local tradespeople who assembled the exposed wood ceilings, forged steel-framed windows, crafted wooden finger-joined cabinetry, poured concrete floors, and applied paint-free plaster finishes by hand, balancing precision with a touched-by-man feel.

To minimize impact on neighbors, we placed the studio well back on the lot and behind the existing garage (with which it shares a wall), making it nearly invisible from the street, and kept mature trees intact to minimize visibility from adjacent yards. To lessen environmental impact, we leveraged existing utilities, installed radiant-floor heating, super-insulated walls, used laminated glass, and designed windows and roof overhangs for passive cooling and control of solar exposure, respectively.

View the full set of project images, including elevations and renderings, here.

all images by kurt jordan photography