CRAWFORD ATTIC WRITING ROOM
A couple with a 1930s Dutch revival clapboard in upstate New York want to turn their attic into a writing room and guest space. She, a writer, and he, a bookbinder, together own a letterpress. The two want a space for writing and storage of their book collection – for the consumption and production of literature. Their project is one about escape within their own habitual/domestic environment.
The solution exploits the small volume as a single room with several pockets. Primary circulation/access down the center takes advantage of the ceiling apex for head-height. As the ceiling slopes lower, sitting-height program is distributed along the edges to include the writing desk, reading chairs, chaise lounge, and a refurbished claw-foot tub.
The two ends of the volume orient the interior horizontally (at the rear) and vertically (at the bookcase). With a frameless rear window at one end and a mirrored bookcase opposite, the volume works to double context (the rear view) and content (the literary collection). The walls accommodate the program and stair pockets, emphasizing both volume and view.
