The Mews Studio is a Custom designed sustainably built wood project that combines a garden environment with the public realm of a formal gravelled courtyard entrance from a busy public service road. The office courtyard is entered through a sliding wooden door. The L-shaped office and store plan is organised around the courtyard that contains a continuous external granite seat and steps connecting it to a garden beyond. The level difference between garden and courtyard increases its sense of scale. A 2.85m height was achieved internally. South and west facing double glazed larch windows and vents provide natural light and ventilation. Selected sightlines of the garden, the courtyard and the planted passageway contribute to a vibrant green workspace. It is a highly insulated timber framed structure, clad in standardised Siberian Larch boarding with pressed steel cantilevered soffit and coping. The cladding was customised by turning every 5th board through 90° to give a pronounced horizontal emphasis and depth to the wooden surface. This arrangement visually compresses the building to sit comfortably and will enhance the weathering pattern of the wood as it ages. Internally the walls, ceiling, and window reveals are lined in standard 2.4x1.2m limed birch plywood, including crafted ambient recessed fluorescent edge lighting, oak flooring and Electric heating panels used for a comfortable and bright interior. Publication: Plan Magazine
