Acknowledgement of Country

Adriano Pupilli Architects respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and work; the Gayamaygal people and Yuin people. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. This is, was and always will be Aboriginal land.

Jewellery Box Studio Dulwich Hill

Immersed in nature

Residential

This painting studio for a part-time visual artist sits nestled in a leafy backyard in Sydney’s Inner West. Opening wide to its surroundings, it allows the painter to feel as though they are working "plein air," fully enveloped in their natural surroundings.
Location
Gadigal Country / Dulwich Hill, NSW
Type
Residential
Status
Complete
Year
2016
Builder
Linear Building Services Pty Ltd
Awards
Australian Timber Design Awards – Finalist
Photography
Simon Whitbread

The studio is designed to disappear into its leafy setting, using the Japanese technique of shou sugi ban—charred timber—for the hardwood cladding. This technique adds textural interest while also helping the building recede into the garden, making it appear smaller and more integrated with the environment. We also drew on its lesser-known properties such as self-protection and vermin resistance achieved through the charring process.

Just like a jewellery box, the studio is filled with surprises and intricate details. Fine timber detailing and sliding doors that open wide invite the landscape inside, allowing for connection between the studio and its surroundings. The result is a simple, meditative space that is completely immersed in the garden – the perfect place for deep creative work.

The studio is designed to disappear into its leafy setting, using the Japanese technique of shou sugi ban — charred timber — for the hardwood cladding

Fine timber detailing and sliding doors that open wide invite the landscape inside, allowing for connection between the studio and its surroundings