Studio for a Composer is a minimal space located in London, designed by architect Mary Duggan.
The studio is a new independent structure carefully positioned within the grounds of a small contemporary house on a backland site, resting in perpendicular orientation to the rear gardens of neighboring Victorian terraces. It is reached by a narrow access laneway from the street. As well as the music studio, the project consists of hard and soft landscaping, including a serpentine laneway leading to a newly planted garden. Externally, the project builds upon the existing material characteristics prevalent within the internalized urban condition; one defined and enclosed by heavy bounding masonry walls, with surfaces that have developed a soft material texture over time, layered with native climber plants.
The building form carefully curates a natural route to the main house entrance. Swelling towards the centre of the internal garden, the form concludes at a bay window and recedes again to create a soft enclosure to the body of the main house and living room terrace. The interior studio space reciprocally is a gently curving acoustic room, the extruded bay reaching into the garden supports the key working and performance space. Circular rooflights provide top light to the performance and working spaces within. Walls are rendered in clay plaster. Bespoke pieces include timber joinery, stone door handles, and a steel cloak rail.
