Honor Award: Paul Hayden Duensing Building, Penland Letterpress and Printmaking Studio
Architect:Cannon Architects
Location: Penland, NC
100 Word Description: Phase 1 of a new 2-D Studio Building planned in 2 phases. In Phase 1 the program included studio spaces for printmaking and letterpress, display walls, support spaces and outdoor workspaces. The project was placed in the center of campus in the location of the “Old Iron and Glass Building”. We used retaining walls in the site to create outdoor spaces and located the walls to outline the memory of the first building. Phase 2 will house a drawing / painting studio on an upper level and book arts studio on the same level as the phase 1 letterpress studio.
Architect’s Statement: Although planned in two phases, the building was designed with the understanding that Phase 1 would stand alone for several years, even in perpetuity. Therefore, the West End became both an “end” of the building form with a crescendo roof that slopes in two directions and a “pause” in anticipation of phase 2. The sloping roof subtly mimics the undulation of the terrain and acts to differentiate the two studios volumetrically. In anticipation of a second phase, the roof will continue the same profile to capture an end piece with two levels of studio space. The materials of the building were selected for their textural character, creating surface variations that animated the simple rectilinear building form. The balance of capturing sweeping views of the mountains and providing desired wall space for pinup and perimeter casework was achieved by a continuous band of glass beneath the floating roof, and floor to ceiling glass at the corners. The floor to ceiling corner glass expands the interior space out into the landscape and provides four very different vistas from each corner. Useable wall space was then created below the higher glass, creating a horizontal datum line for organizing cabinetry, display space, soffits and track lighting. The building was also sited to terminate at its highest point in alignment with an existing historic water tower that was restored as part of this project. The water tower also becomes the visual hinge point between phase 1 & 2. The vertical counterpoint of the water tower against the ascending horizontal roof provides a visual balance between the rustic historic “craft” character of the existing Penland Buildings, and the new “steel and glass” character of the 2-D Studio Building.
