Harty and Harty has completed a carefully crafted and ecologically responsible art studio in rural Wiltshire.
Designed by Harty and Harty, the Deborah Goldman Art Studio is located within the grounds of a large farmhouse on a sloping south-facing site in South Wiltshire. Conceived as an ecosystem that is cyclical, sustainable and active, environmental design considerations are central to the project. The roof, for example, channels rainwater into an architectural pool and balancing pond in the garden, providing a natural habitat for wildlife.
Concept sketches
Adopting a slim oblong form that rises from the ground in a gentle arc, the masonry and timber building is intended to form a strong connection between the land and the sky. A tree pierces the roofline, adding a poetic touch and further integrating the structure with its rural surroundings.
All the materials used on the project are locally-sourced and were chosen for their honesty and simplicity. Applied finishes and paints are eschewed in favour of the products’ natural beauty. We explored texture and shadow in the building envelope to enrich the surfaces and used local green stone as a contextual reference, explains the architect. Bamboo and raw concrete sculptural walls feature in the terraces and pools as an eastern influence. The roof extends beyond the building, creating high areas similar to an African veranda, a nod to the client’s homeland.
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