Aberfoyle Artist Retreat

Barnaby Woods |  Washington, DC

Conceived as a retreat and sanctuary space, this small accessory structure is carefully sited in the rear garden of a large wooded lot in Northwest DC.  The building not only creates visual interest in the garden, but serves as the focal point for family gatherings and outdoor activities.  The space is fully conditioned, which allows for use throughout the year.  The owners inhabit the space daily as a painting studio, yoga room, and an escape from the noise of the city.  The glass, brick, slate, and copper echo the material palate of the existing house.  This allows the studio to remain deferential to the larger main structure while creating a lantern that draws the visitors out into the garden.  Exposed Douglas Fir ceiling beams and roof decking give the small structure a sense of grandeur and warmth that belies its tiny footprint. The landscape, a carefully composed experience of framed views and unique spaces, evokes a calming, Buddhist-like setting.  The studio is not only a place for quiet contemplation and mindfulness, it also allows for future expansion with a simple conversion to an accessory dwelling unit.