Weaving Studio in Washington by Prentiss Architects

This project from Prentiss Architects, located in Seattle, was a recent recipient of the 2010 NWAIA Honor Award.

From the architects:

This project is located on a steep rocky waterfront parcel on the west shore of San Juan Island. An existing house was already on the accessible location; the only remaining spot for the Studio was on a rocky shelf above and behind the residence.

The client, a professional weaver, and her husband are preparing to move to San Juan Island once the husband retires. Their request was for studio space in which she could have all her weaving tools in one facility: her looms, her dying facilities, the sewing and assembly area and an office. She would use this space for her craft but also to hold weaving guild meetings and display her work. In addition to the programmatic requirements of the studio they wanted to have an overflow bedroom for guests.

The solution is a generous main studio space flowing with natural light that provides ample display space while maintaining incremental views of the sound. Off of this space the auxiliary spaces have been defined by the folding back of the exterior shell: to one end a bath and office, to the other a “wet room”. The wet room could be closed off and opened to the exterior in order to allow fumes from dying and drying to not permeate the rest of the studio. Two additional spaces, the sewing room and a guest bedroom appear as an extrusion of the main studio space set into the hill at the back of the studio. A series of sliding panels intended as display panels for weaving projects hide or reveal access to the back rooms and storage cabinets.

Project Name: Weaving Studio
Project Location: San Juan Island, Washington
Project Size: 1,250 sq.ft.
Completed: 2010

Architectural Firm: Prentiss Architects
Principal in Charge: Geoff Prentiss
Project Designer: Kozo Nozawa
Structural Engineer: Todd Perbix, Perbix Bykonen
Builder: Lowe Construction
Photographers: Last four photos by Jay Goodrich, all others by Prentiss Architects