Field for big studio dreams
In the spring of 2024 (Memorial Day, exactly!), I proposed the idea of building a studio on a flat piece of grassy land near the edge of the six-acre semi-rural property where I live. I moved here (to Ashland, OR) at the beginning of the pandemic to be with my partner, wood sculptor, Christian Burchard. Christian had made this land his home and workspace for over twenty years and it is wonderfully filled with his creations and history. When I moved down from Portland I needed quite a bit of space for my own practice, so I set up shop at a light industrial complex just 7 minutes from my new home. This arrangement served me well for several years, but after a few expansions to accommodate larger projects, the studio was now at 4000 sq/ft and the burden of rent at a tipping point. It had also become increasingly difficult to make the daily transition from home (pets, garden, working at home husband) to a business park environment, while maintaining the inspiration that flourishes from this breathtaking land. A home studio became the obvious move forward for the growth of my work and cementing my life in Ashland.
Walking out to the proposed building site May 27, 2024.
Over the years, I had squirreled away clippings and screenshots on the construction and finishing details that I might want for a dream studio or home. The design ethos, durability, and economic benefits of prefab construction have been part of this interest for over twenty years. Backing up a bit… my mid-twenties-thirties were spent living on industrial property, Working in a large steel building, Creating a home from unusual and scavenged materials, And eventually designing a contemporary home from steel shipping containers and glass. (It was the first permitted residence to be built exclusively from shipping containers in the state of California! Construction for this project was started on my watch, but eventually completed by a subsequent property owner.) Back in present day, my construction and building design knowledge were a little dusty, but the past twenty years creating my studio practice and moving through a variety of leased units had cataloged personalized information to perfectly tailor the new forever studio.
Kristy with Ken Brown, December 2024. In the background: building site with red iron going up.
Enter: Kenneth Brown Construction
Less than a week after the new building became the topic of conversation, I was referred to a steel building contractor who might take on the job. Fingers crossed! Ken Brown stopped by the site on a Saturday evening to discuss the project and Christian and I knew immediately that he would bring the right energy, craftsmanship, vision and experience needed for this build. I wanted a strong steel building not only for aesthetics, but also for long term flexibility of use and resilience in the wildfire prone region where we live. Ken is well respected for his massive, multi-million dollar industrial buildings, shopping centers, and manufacturing facilities (also including Area 51!) yet he works on smaller local projects that support the community and help maintain his crews at home. We were thrilled to have such an accomplished builder (indeed, a polymath) on board and after just a few weeks of adjustments on my original sketch, Ken and I had a simple building design and the permitting process was underway.
Project Breakdown:
Scale model of the building rests on the prepared building site in glow of sunrise.
Size: 2200sf footprint with 800sf mezzanine
Construction: Red Iron Steel Building (I”m learning… It’s more accurate to say “Red Iron” than “metal” building due to the robust, red primed steel structure we used.)
Siding/ Roof: Galvalume (shiny silver) with black trim
Extended concrete pad for outdoor storage, work spaces
View: Killer. Directly looking out on Mt. Ashland from the main felting table.
Areas of consideration:
Wet felting zone with washer/dryer, bathtub, deep sink and wash down area that mops out small roll-up door.
Needle felting, cutting tables, office all upstairs to provide workspace for KK while workshops are in session on main floor.
20’ walls for large installations and layout projections
Large space for photography that can be easily darkened.
Wood/ metal shops that can expand outdoors as weather permits (to eventually be covered)
February 18, 2025 update: With the steel structure complete, roofed and sided, I am following the daily progress inside… walls, stairs, mechanical. The mezzanine now fully constructed and electrical and plumbing rough in can wrap up this week. Today, the first rough inspection was called in for framing! Sliding and roll up doors will be installed by the end of the month, along with drywall and painting. Specialty plumbing (my funny felting bathtub) and final finishes will go in after the final inspection, bringing the move in to early March. This puts us at nine and a half months from concept to completion… an amazing feat! As my studio has been in storage since mid December, I am anxious (desperate!) to get settled in and back to work.
