Artist’s studio and workshop, with modern living accommodation and a large foldaway door.
Combining space for an artist’s studio and workshop, with living accommodation, the Red Barn has been designed with openness in mind. The entire ground floor is free of columns, to provide the studio space, while the upper floors incorporate a bridge structure. Located in a hurricane-prone region, the design had to account for very high wind speeds.
A foldaway door 38 feet wide and a 12-foot breezeway left few locations for structure along the length of the building. Fully glazed gable ends also limited available locations for structural support. The large openings in the side of the building were accommodated with isolated columns and a heavy steel truss structure to span the open elevation of the building. The gables incorporate moment frames with isolated rod bracing to minimise the structural impact to the glazed elevations.
Local tradesmen were familiar with timber construction and this was used wherever possible. Combining steel and wood in creative ways ensured costs were kept lower than a full steel framed option. The occupied attic space was kept free of structure through the use of portalised steel roof frames and heavy timber ridge beams that precluded the need for rods or ties.
