This small building, a studio for a photographer, is located in the backyard of a 1920s Craftsman bungalow. A contemporary reinterpretation of craftsman architecture, its design is based on a layered wall system. The building makes a clear distinction between the vertical structural system of the redwood posts, the lateral structural systems of the plywood shear panels, and the interior walls for display. Plywood shear panels are commonly required in wood construction in an earthquake zone, although they are typically always hidden behind the building’s cladding. Here, these panels are given distinct articulation: the exposed patterning of the screws act as an ornamental expression of the structural requirements of the building code. Because of its tactile scale and attention to detail, the studio fits in well with its Arts & Crafts neighbors even though the building technology it employs is quite different than the historical precedent.
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