Heatherwick’s Timber Studios are Split Down the Middle and Covered in Thin Steel

Never one to take a conventional approach to design, <a href="http://www.heatherwick.com/creative-business-units/">Thomas Weatherwick</a> split a series of timber-framed buildings right down the middle and covered them in a very thin, crinkly steel. Commissioned by the <a href="http://www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk/">Aberystwyth Arts Center</a> in Wales to build small start-up creative business studios on a beautiful wooded site, the designer opted for these smaller buildings so that they would merge with the landscape more seamlessly than a single block campus.

Commissioned to design 16 studios for creative startup professionals, Heatherwick Studio didn't want to ruin the woodland site

Instead of creating one large block, Heatherwick opted for 8 buildings clad in a shimmering metal

Since thick steel is too expensive, the studio purchased a thin steel that has the consistency of cooking foil

This material had no rigidity, however, nor insulating properties.

The studios are split in the middle to permit natural light and ventilation

The wooded site called for a different approach to a block of studios

Each studio houses two artists

Splitting the timber-framed building facilitates natural light and ventilation and the cladding. Sprayed with a non-CFC insulation, is now rigid and keeps the buildings airtight.

Sprayed with a non-CFC insulation, is now rigid and keeps the buildings airtight.