The Middlebrook Studios
The Middlebrook Studios
6. 8月 2012
The Middlebrook Studios are four sleep/work cabins south of San Francisco that benefit from views of the Pacific Ocean. Architect Cass Calder Smith designed the cabins to go above and beyond the local green-building requirements; most notable is a prefabricated steel canopy that straddles the four wood buildings and acts as an armature for solar panels. The architect answered some questions about the project.
The property consists of 582 acres of rolling hills, forests and meadows high in the coastal hills of Woodside, CA.
What were the circumstances of receiving the commission for this project?
CCS was put on a shortlist of architects. We were interviewed and based on our qualifications and enthusiasm fro the project, we were selected. The group that interviewed CCS was the founder Carl Djerassi, his son Dale Djerassi, the executive director Dennis O‘leary, and George Wolfson who is a trustee.
The four sleep/work cabins are designed with sustainable features, including a freestanding, pre-engineered steel roof assembly that carries solar panels.
Can you describe your design process for the building?
The design process started with walking the site with the clients to establish where to build the studios. Like all projects, I work very collaboratively with my clients, so this was the start of that.
Then in schematic design, I explored a variety of building types and shapes, but decided it should be 4 small buildings that came together as a collective, and that is what the overall canopy roof does. I thought about what writers in residency would want and what would make them more creative than usual. From that I felt the best was to aim them at the Pacific Ocean to be inspired by the beauty of the place, yet with their own privacy. No other people, nor the other studios, can be seen from any of the studios, so an introverted experience is contrasted with an extroverted view. This was presented as an artistic endeavor to the clients and they really appreciated it – as they felt that anything created at the program should be of high artistic nature.
All are aimed at the southern and western views but skewed a few degrees from each other, giving the arrangement a looseness that contrasts with the linear rigidity of the roof.
How does the completed building compare to the project as designed? Were there any dramatic changes between the two and/or lessons learned during construction?
It compares very closely to what was expected. The design was modeled in the computer, and we built a scale model of it as well. This taught us what to expect, and in the end it ended up better than expected because the site is so dramatic and you can't really model that. I use wood in many of my projects and, as you can see, this was the case here too.
The siting of building takes advantage of uninterrupted views of the Pacific coast to the southwest, and the coastal ridgeline to the east.
How does the building compare to other projects in your office, be it the same or other building types?
It’s different than other projects in that the program is different than a house or a restaurant. It’s also architecture to foster a single person to be more creative, and to perhaps foster expanded thought. Even though mostly different, it's similar in the fact that it’s still for domestic use…a room to stay in essentially.
Floor plan
How does the building relate to contemporary architectural trends, be it sustainability, technology, etc.?
It’s a version of what I call "warm modernism," which is somewhat common today. The projects have a bit of sustainability incorporated, from PV solar panels on the roof to FSC Lumber and fly ash concrete. We also carpeted the floors with carpet tiles that were leftover samples from our office.
Site plan
Are there any new/upcoming projects in your office that this building’s design and construction has influenced?
New projects that are influenced by this aren't happening yet, but hopefully soon. It will be based on a certain type of client.
Email interview conducted by John Hill.
Design sketch
The Middlebrook Studios
2011
Woodside, CA
Client
Djerassi Resident Artists Program
Architect
CCS ARCHITECTURE
San Francisco
Design Principal
Cass Calder Smith
Project Architect
Tim Quayle
Interior Design Director
Barbara Turpin-Vickroy
Structural Engineer
John Yadegar & Associates
Contractor
Bill Brown Construction
Steel Fabricator (canopy)
Quincy Bragg; Critical Path Steel Buildings
Solar
Sun, Light & Power
Site Area
582 acres
Building Area
(4) 300 square foot units
Photos
Paul Dyer