Artist Workshop
Date: 2023-2026
Material: Slate
Location: Ithaca, New York, US
Program: Artist Workshop
Status: Unbuilt (Conceptual Project)
The artist workshop is part of a series of conceptual houses designed with the immediate resources available on site. For the atelier, local slate was sourced from the bedrock adjacent to the structure. Research of the building material, its characteristics, methods of construction, availability, and strength, were initially investigated. The surrounding villages use slate masonry construction for the ground level or basements, as well as roof tiles. Studying the local structures provided insights into the local applications of slate.
The artist workshop incorporates masonry construction to remain in a dialogue with the existing context and its available resources. The slate is envisioned to be stacked using dry stone stacking construction techniques, with lime mortar used only when necessary (i.e. on final courses to cap wall for timber roof). The use of dry stone construction with irregular components allows for future re-construction. Rather than relying on standardised geometries, the irregularity ensures that the method can be used throughout multiple life spans of the building. The one meter thick walls provide stability through the weight and friction of the stones, as well as interlocking techniques of quoins and through-stones. The inner buffer of storage space acts as insulation in the cold winters, part of which would be filled with organic insulation materials such as wool and natural fibres. Considering the eventual deterioration of the structure as part of the life span of the building, this design aims to minimally impact the surrounding terrain.
The artist workshop is a single large room, similar to the size of a small chapel, with two adjacent courtyards. These three rooms act as a place for creative contemplation and making. The interior walls are lined with wooden cabinets which will house all auxiliary rooms, such as bathroom, pantry, kitchen, storage, and also act as a place to store raw materials and tools for the artist. A place to eat alongside the kitchen and a place read by a library, occupy two corners. The rest of the space is open for the artist’s creative projects: a large table is used for a painting, drawing and writing surface, while the outdoor courtyards act as places to build larger sculptures and gather materials from the surrounding forest.

Exterior View (Visualization Credit: Laura Stargala)

Site Plan (Drawing Credit: Laura Stargala)

Ground Floor Plan (Drawing Credit: Laura Stargala)
The artist workshop incorporates masonry construction methods to remain in a dialogue with the existing context and its available resources.

Interior of Artist Workshop (Visualization Credit: Laura Stargala)
The use of dry stone construction with irregular components allows for future re-construction. Rather than relying on standardised geometries, the irregularity ensures that the method can be used throughout multiple life spans of the building
(i.e. design for deconstruction).

Long Section (Drawing Credit: Laura Stargala)

Detailed Section (Drawing Credit: Laura Stargala)


Testing Slate (Photo Credit: Laura Stargala)
Abundance of Slate in Ithaca, New York (Photo Credit: Laura Stargala)