Modern art studio reflects formal 1909 Craftsman

The 400-square-foot addition plays off the lines of the original home with a thin, corrugated-steel butterfly roof that reflects the eaves of the main house. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Aug. 13, 2013 12:02 PM PT

A modern, concrete-block art studio complements the lines of a historic Craftsman through deliberate design choices. “I needed to create a dialogue between the buildings and the site,” said architect Rick Corsini. “Old and new need to speak to one another.”

From the deck of the main house, the roof appears to float. “The roofline is very conscious and very deliberate,” said architect Rick Corsini. “We wanted to create an inverse relationship with the existing house.” (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

A linear breezeway alongside the studio was designed with flow and movement in mind. Corsini describes the layout as “sequenced choreography”: A curved path takes you from the main house, down through the breezeway and, eventually, to the studio. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Gwen Freeman paints in her art studio in Mt. Washington. She wanted a serious art studio that provided storage, ample light and space to paint. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Simple materials, such as light-colored okoume marine grade playwood, line the ceiling and create utilitarian built-in cabinets that add warmth to the space. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Clerestory windows allow natural light to flood the interiors and maintain garden views. Occasionally, Freeman said, she can spot a red-tailed hawk and great blue heron through the solar glass panels above her easel. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Natural ventilation is provided, courtesy of the custom steel-frame pivot doors that open out to the garden and allow southwest breezes in. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Corsini chose a Ladera Red block from Los Angeles-based Orco Blended Products that was then burnished to expose the aggregate. The rust-hued blocks resemble terrazzo tile with specks of red, white and brown. The addition of red grout adds to the distinctive look and unifies the blocks as one mass. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Gwen Freeman and Tilly outside her new art studio. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

The homeowners insisted on preserving the garden and pond. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Small waterfalls decorate the garden. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Buried 4 feet in the earth, the studio is ¿like a cave with floating walls,¿ Corsini said. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

A pathway to the art studio is planted with heirloom vegetables, herbs and flowers. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

The new studio can easily double as a detached office, but the paint smudges on the door handles ¿ and dog Stitch ¿ hint at its true intent. ¿The studio has allowed me to grow as an artist,¿ Freeman said while displaying some of her recent landscapes in oil. ¿It feels good here. It feels like the main house.¿ (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)