As a team, we have the opportunity to work in contrasting environments across the
country, from central urban regions to the periphery and countryside. Rhodes Island,
situated on the periphery, has always been a fascinating landscape of constant
architectural transformation, largely driven by tourism. The growing demand for our
services led to the creation of our satelite office in the heart of Rhodes town.
Operating in a diaspora has alowed us to develop new methodologies, enabling us to
respond to the bespoke requirements of each project on-site. Our vision for this space
was to create a dynamic co-working studio\u2014one that fosters colaboration while also
providing a sanctuary for solitude and self-reflection, two essential ingredients in the
architectural synthesis and creative process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a team, we have the opportunity to work in contrasting environments across thecountry, from central urban regions to the periphery and countryside. Rhodes Island,situated on the periphery, has always been a fascinating landscape of constantarchitectural transformation, largely driven by tourism. The growing demand for ourservices led to the creation of our satelite office in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":11734,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"project-type":[145],"class_list":["post-11559","projects","type-projects","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","project-type-reuse"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
The Existing Space: Constraints & Opportunities<\/strong>
The site we chose is part of a series of five identical, paralel storefronts that form a smal
micro-community along the street. Our unit, positioned centraly, is a narrow, two-story
space with proportions of approximately 8m x 3.5m. With only one opening at the
narrow storefront fa\u00e7ade, the space was in a crude and outdated condition when we
found it.
The original layout was highly inefficient, with wet areas located on the ground floor,
resulting in confined, low-ceiling spaces with poor lighting. Additionaly, extensive
maintenance was required across al surfaces\u2014wals, floors, and ceilings\u2014to bring the
space up to standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spatial Reconfiguration: A New Design Approach<\/strong>
To reimagine the studio, we divided the space into two distinct zones:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ground Floor \u2013 \u201cCo-working\u201d: A colaborative, open workspace engaging in
constant dialogue with the public realm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Upper Floor \u2013 \u201cStudiolo\u201d: A more introspective, filtered space designed for focused
architectural work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This juxtaposition between openness and seclusion creates a spatial narrative that
supports both teamwork and individual creative exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key Architectural Interventions<\/strong>
Expanding the Ground Floor: By relocating the wet areas to the upper floor, we
liberated the ground level, enhancing its openness and flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maximizing Natural Light: The original window frames were replaced with thin-profile
glazing, increasing transparency and alowing daylight to flood the space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Introducing a Sculptural Element: At the rear of the ground floor, we inserted a corten
steel helix staircase\u2014a vertical counterpoint to the studio\u2019s predominantly linear
proportions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Materiality & Craftsmanship<\/strong>
The spatial constraints required a thoughtful approach to furniture placement and
circulation. A l key elements\u2014furniture, staircase, and storage\u2014are custom-designed
and centralized to optimize the proportions of the space, fostering a seamless, organic
interaction between users and their environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ground Floor Elements: Custom birchwood furniture forms the central workspace,
functioning as both a communal table and a perimeter bookcase\/storage unit at a
consistent height of 90cm. The surrounding wals, finished in white plaster, enhance the
diffusion of natural light, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upper Floor Layout: The back of the upper level is structured around a T-shaped
configuration housing service areas (kitchenette and bathroom), maintaining the
centralized design principle. This level also serves as an exhibition space for material
samples, an essential tactile reference in the architectural design process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Space for Creativity & Collaboration<\/strong>
The combination of birchwood and white surfaces fosters a warm yet minimalistic
atmosphere, where natural light animates the space throughout the day. The result is
an environment that not only facilitates colaboration but also nurtures the deep
introspection necessary for architectural creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An evolving canvas<\/strong>
In the quiet transformation of space, we find echoes of past lives and whispers of future
possibilities. What was once an abandoned shel, rigid and forgotten, now breathes
with light, dialogue, and creation. The studio stands not just as a place of work, but as
an evolving canvas\u2014one that adapts, welcomes, and inspires.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"