Fallingwater Institute’s summer residency programs have a new educational hub

Students of the Fallingwater Institute’s summer residence programs in architecture, art, and design have a new educational hub courtesy Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. Dubbed High Meadow Studio, the building is an addition to and renovation of an existing garage.

The garage was previously used as the summer programs’ design studio, but the small size limited capacity while the lack of natural daylight, views, and ventilation disconnected the space from the nearby meadow. The new studio doubles the existing footprint and adds a fabrication shop, review space, storage, support spaces, a covered outdoor work area, and a strong connection to the natural surroundings.

See Also: Watch Frank Lloyd Wright and Buckminster Fuller discuss architecture in animated video shorts

The existing garage structure was re-skinned and re-purposed to serve as the fabrication shop. Opaque double garage doors were replaced with translucent panels that open to direct views of the meadow. The studio addition is positioned into the forest between mature trees and includes a translucent north wall paired with a full-length pin-up southern wall.

Two red-stained plywood cores house the support and storage spaces and frame the link between the shop and the studio. Roof vents draw air from the forest floor across the studio through operable panels and custom screens block insects from entering the space.