Photography studios are a curious type of space. Not quite open-air art studio, and not usually having a fixed formal layout, they are part of a range of building typologies that can morph and change according to needs. There isn’t a single template that guides the design of a photography studio, and as such, they tend to be heterogenous and reflective of the varied needs of their users.
The following collection of photography studios shows the formal variety of these work spaces. From live-work arrangements that incorporate living quarters into the same structure, to dedicated office spaces that resemble traditional work environments, to independent structures for a singular program, these photography studios offer a diverse set of digs for the contemporary working photographer.
Studio Rby StudioMK27, Sao Paulo, Brazil
This office space contains three levels of programs, including a garden-level photography studio that opens up to an adjacent outdoor space, an open-plan kitchen/office space and a top floor social area that is adjacent to a roof garden.
Small Studio for Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture by Christian Tonko, Bregenz, Austria
This two-level art studio is sited on a sloping hillside and its volumes create a dynamic bi-directional tilting of a skylight that allows sunlight to pour in, while a system of exterior screens allows this light to be modulated. The materials of raw concrete, steel and oak reference the industrial sheds of the region.
Photographer’s Loftby Desai Chia Architecture PC, New York, N.Y., United States
This loft in New York City was renovated from an industrial space into a 5,000-square-foot live-work space. The architects created distinct zones for public and private uses, with the bedrooms and a library/reception area for meeting with gallerists and presenting her work sited on the interior of the space, and open public spaces of the kitchen and living/dining areas sited towards the street.
Wallaby Lane House and Studioby Robinson Architects, Tinbeerwah, Australia
This home and studio for a family relocating from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast is organized to the site’s natural contours. The compact yet spacious home opens up to the mountains across an open meadow.
Webber Street Studioby Chiara Ferrari Studio, London, United Kingdom
This traditional photography studio and office for John Ross Photography Studio featured exposed concrete and white resin flooring and walls to accentuate the display of the photographer’s work.
Photography Studioby Wildblood MacDonald, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
This independent structure of stone and steel is an office pavilion featuring a curved glazing sited towards a sloping hillside.