in the backyard of an original sixties bungalow in bruges, belgium, studio mxmxm has designed a prefabricated studio/atelier for glass artist pia burrick. immersed in the surrounding trees and greenery, the 45 sqm construction is built in a black-stained wooden framework and topped with a roof of four CLT panels that pitch down towards the center like a ‘butterfly’. a glass window runs along the entire facade, sometimes high up to catch indirect northern light, sometimes halfway to create intimacy, and sometimes all the way down to create a close visual connection to the natural surroundings. four skylights further bathe the interior in ample natural light.

the wooden structure and roof are completely prefabricated and put together on site. after pouring the concrete foundation plate, only two days were needed to place these prefabricated wooden elements together, which considerably shortens the construction time.

all images by tim van de velde

in 1956, the parents of the current residents built a modern bungalow house on this tree-rich plot in bruges. designed by architects jaqcues pêtre & jan tanghe, the building’s plan is conceived on a grid of 1,12 by 1,12 meters consisting of an outer shell of black tarred wooden walls interspersed with large windows and a cantilevered roof supported by ten steel columns. in 2020, the current residents asked studio mxmxm to design a new studio space on this plot to accommodate stained glass artist pia burrick’s practice. in harmony with the existing house, a new detached building was erected based on the same grid of 1,12 by 1,12 meters.

‘the existing house achieved maximum freedom and efficiency through a structural logic of ten steel columns and fixed dimensions,’ explains the young belgian studio. ‘the same building methods were continued in the construction of the new studio space with the latest available wood techniques.’

the studio is located in the backyard of an original sixties bungalow in bruges

built in a black-stained wooden framework, the prefabricated artist studio’s four facades also form the supporting structure of the roof. its four CLT panels span the entire space and are punctuated by four skylights that bring in ample natural light, along with the continuous glass window of the facade. on the inside, only the structural lines are stained black, while the infills between are out of bare wood or glass, creating a graphic pattern reminiscent to the graphics of stained glass windows. ‘this project has been rationally conceived in function of structural freedom and cost efficiency without losing its playfulness,’ adds studio mxmxm.

it perfectly communicates with the original building and the surrounding trees and garden

the roof’s CLT panels pitch down towards the center like a ‘butterfly’

the continuous window is placed here high up to catch indirect northern light

skylights bathe the studio in ample natural light

program: workshop space location: bruges, belgium scale: 45 sqm year: 2020

photography: tim van de velde

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