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iolair
iolair
Eastsound, WA, United States
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iolair
Eastsound, WA, United States
Firm
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2025
SIZE
1000 sqft - 3000 sqft
BUDGET
$500K - 1M
Located on a compact infill site in the heart of Eastsound, the main village on Orcas Island, this new structure introduces a building type previously unseen in the town: a combined artist-in-residence studio, gallery, residence, and office. The project occupies land that still bears traces of its former life as an apple orchard and sits between the two main pedestrian thoroughfares in Eastsound. The site, therefore, bridges a transition from a residential neighborhood to the east and a commercial corridor to the west.
Conceived as the first phase of a two-building creative enclave, the completed structure frames one edge of a central courtyard that will be further defined when a future cottage is added on the east side of the site. The design balances the need for solitude and focus in artistic practice with a public-facing role as a gallery and gathering space. Despite its modest footprint, the building accommodates a range of functions: a gallery, working loft, office, kitchen, public and private bathrooms, and a secluded bedroom for the artist-in-residence.
The massing is simple and intentional. Iolair employs an L-shaped form that embraces the courtyard, creating an outdoor room nearly equal in size to the building itself. The cedar-clad exterior is stained ebony, with white-stained wood used selectively to define the covered workspace, echoing the white gallery walls within. The roofline steps in response to the program, with higher volumes for public zones and lower forms for private spaces. A large circular window, nicknamed the “eagle’s eye,” draws natural light deep into the gallery and creates a striking visual connection to the adjacent park.
The project weaves art into its very fabric. Local artists were commissioned to contribute permanent works: the nine-foot galvanized steel Fern Totem gate, a sculptural firepit, custom handrails, and forged door hardware by Zackarya Leck; and Sun and Moon, a carved stone sculpture by Pete Welty placed between the gallery and the residence. These works embed a sense of place and craftsmanship into the architecture itself.
The project emphasizes material honesty, craft, and spatial efficiency. Artists in the inaugural residency described the building not just as a place to live and work, but as a collaborator in their creative process. Its carved spaces, shifting daylight, and connection to the landscape became sources of inspiration.
Iolair represents a bold yet sensitive addition to Eastsound’s fabric: rooted in its context, responsive in scale, and deeply committed to fostering creative life.
Conceived as the first phase of a two-building creative enclave, the completed structure frames one edge of a central courtyard that will be further defined when a future cottage is added on the east side of the site. The design balances the need for solitude and focus in artistic practice with a public-facing role as a gallery and gathering space. Despite its modest footprint, the building accommodates a range of functions: a gallery, working loft, office, kitchen, public and private bathrooms, and a secluded bedroom for the artist-in-residence.
The massing is simple and intentional. Iolair employs an L-shaped form that embraces the courtyard, creating an outdoor room nearly equal in size to the building itself. The cedar-clad exterior is stained ebony, with white-stained wood used selectively to define the covered workspace, echoing the white gallery walls within. The roofline steps in response to the program, with higher volumes for public zones and lower forms for private spaces. A large circular window, nicknamed the “eagle’s eye,” draws natural light deep into the gallery and creates a striking visual connection to the adjacent park.
The project weaves art into its very fabric. Local artists were commissioned to contribute permanent works: the nine-foot galvanized steel Fern Totem gate, a sculptural firepit, custom handrails, and forged door hardware by Zackarya Leck; and Sun and Moon, a carved stone sculpture by Pete Welty placed between the gallery and the residence. These works embed a sense of place and craftsmanship into the architecture itself.
The project emphasizes material honesty, craft, and spatial efficiency. Artists in the inaugural residency described the building not just as a place to live and work, but as a collaborator in their creative process. Its carved spaces, shifting daylight, and connection to the landscape became sources of inspiration.
Iolair represents a bold yet sensitive addition to Eastsound’s fabric: rooted in its context, responsive in scale, and deeply committed to fostering creative life.
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