The Painters' Lake House, known as Canvas, is set within a beautiful natural landscape, designed for two families of painters who will spend a few months creating art. The design focuses on building a strong connection with the outdoors while providing practical living and working spaces. The layout includes two separate living units, a shared co-working area, and a larger warehouse, all positioned to offer views of the surrounding greenery and the lake.

Spatial Organization

The layout features structures placed on different platforms at varying heights, enhancing the interaction between the buildings and the landscape. This arrangement allows for diverse visual perspectives from each unit. Large windows are a key feature, flooding the interiors with natural light and creating a sense of openness that connects the inside with the outside.

Workshop Layout

The workshop spans two levels. The ground floor includes a co-working area as well as an exhibition space where the painters can display their work. The upper floor has a shared studio with large windows that frame views of the lake, providing a space that invites collaboration and creativity. The arrangement of these spaces supports individual artistic practices while encouraging interactions among the residents.

Residential Design

Each living unit serves a family of painters, with ground floors that include a kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. A glass structure links the ground floor to personal studios, allowing ample sunlight to enter and maintaining a connection to the natural surroundings. This relationship with nature is central to the experience of the artists living and working in the house.

Environmental Integration

The design demonstrates a commitment to ecological sensitivity. Features such as openings in the attics of the living units and the workshop support local bats, showing awareness of the local ecosystem. Materials chosen for the project, which include chestnut wood, tempered glass, and corten steel, blend with the natural setting and provide durability.

The sloped roof design prevents water from entering the building, while strategically placed glass windows enhance sunlight exposure. This attention to detail creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, allowing the artists to be in tune with both their craft and the natural environment.