Inside the Artist’s Studio: 7 Artist Residences Designed to Inspire

Many of the most fascinating contemporary homes belong to artists and other creative professionals. Willing to embrace the eccentric and unconventional, artists tend to be open to residential designs that push the envelope. The architects behind these homes often incorporate art studios into everyday living spaces. These residences and studios go beyond meeting the practical requirements of art-making, leaving space for necessary tools, supplies, and open space. They are designed to ignite creativity and innovation in their occupants, to be readily available to artists whenever inspiration strikes.

Artist homes and studios have long been a source of fascination for artists, historians, and art lovers alike. Earlier this year, the influential Gagosian Gallery presented an exhibition on the influence of artist studios and the nature of creative workspaces, often inside the home. Many of the works featured in the exhibit, including works by renowned photographer Richard Avedon and celebrated painter Piet Mondrian, depicted the studio space as a kind of home for ideas. These legendary artists saw the studio as a kind of embodiment of their artistic identity as well as a place where their ideas came to fruition.

The studios and residences of prominent artists of the past are often preserved as museums. The fisherman’s home in which Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner produced their greatest work in the 1940s is open to visitors. The paint from Pollock’s first drip paintings remained caked into the floorboards; the vibrant colors in Krasner’s paintings are still on the walls. The 21st-century observer can see that this house — paid for in large part and bought by Peggy Guggenheim — served as a respite from the pressure of the nearby city and the site of unprecedented artistic innovation.

Fast-forward to 2015 and we ask ourselves, what do artist homes look and feel like now? How are architects creating living spaces that stimulate creativity in their users? Have a look at the following contemporary artist homes and get inspired:

Fogo Island Artist Studios by Saunders Architecture, Fogo Island, Newfoundland, Canada

Off the coast of Newfoundland, the natural beauty, isolated locale, and ocean view inspires its artist occupants daily. The bold geometric structure contrasts the silent environment, but doesn’t disrupt the rocky landscape. Artists come to live and work here for several months at a time, long enough to see the seasons change around them.

Artist’s House and Studio by 3GD inc., Fayetteville, Ark.

Built for a painter and professor at the University of Arkansas, this contemporary home includes a spacious, easily accessible art studio with plenty of light pouring through the skylights. The metal roof gives the structure a more modern, edgy feel compared to its more traditionally designed neighbors.

Artist’s House and Studio by Langlands and Bell, Kent, United Kingdom

Situated in the picturesque English countryside, this artists’ home allows its users to take a break from their busy city lives. The house includes both a studio and a gallery space that give its inhabitants plenty of room to exhibit their work as they’d like.

Artist Studio / Laneway House by Campos Leckie Studio, Vancouver, Canada

This one-bedroom laneway house was built to accommodate an 800-square-foot artist studio. The glass doors let in sunlight and offer a small garden view, creating an ideal, convenient working space.

Artists Car Park Studio by edwards moore, Melbourne, Australia

This beautiful, semi-translucent studio includes a shower, kitchenette, and, of course, a place to store a canoe. It sits in the parking space adjacent to the artist’s original apartment. The white render finish and fiberglass walls create a kind of glowing effect, allowing natural light into the building.

Pumping Station Berlin by Wenk und Wiese Architects, Berlin, Germany

This former pumping station has been converted into a spacious home and studio space for an artist. The architects preserved the original structure and exterior. The clean, white gallery walls inside make this home the perfect space for creating and exhibiting the artist’s work.

Hendee-Borg House by WOJR: Organization for Architecture, Sonoma, Calif.

This symmetrical, saw-tooth house is occupied by two artists. Each has his or her own living quarters, studios, and gallery spaces for their work. The studios were planned on an east-west axis under a series of skylights in order to let in as much natural light as possible. With the two studios on either end of the house, the artists share a living and dining area filled with books for inspiration.