This custom-designed artist's workspace in Tel Aviv is likely to induce envy in anyone who works from home—or, really, anyone who has more than a few papers lying around.
The studio is located within the artist's apartment in a 60-year-old concrete building in Tel Aviv. Presented with a long list of storage requirements—the artist wanted to have her daily tools within easy reach, to be able to display some of her work, and to have a place to archive the rest—and unable to expand the 190-square-foot space, Israeli architects Studio Raanan Stern created an inventive system of drawers and shelves.
To figure out what went where, they measured each print, book, and tool, and divided them into categories based on frequency of use, assigning a color to each category. They then color-coded the drawers on their sides (so that the colors are only revealed when the drawers are open). The setup might baffle an interloper, but it makes perfect sense to the artist in residence: there's a place for everything.
Photography by Gidon Levin via Dezeen.
Above: The architects built the custom storage system in floor-to-ceiling white birch. One advantage of a tiny work space? Everything is within easy reach.
Above: A sliding birch panel reveals a teal well for a fold-out bed.
Above: The bed enables the studio to double as a guest room (and place for the artist to take a nap).
Above: The white birch storage units and floor were given only a clear protective coating to allow the wood grain to show through. The color coding is revealed when the drawers are open
Above: The dimension of every drawer and cell was customized for the artist's tools and art collection.
Above: Each drawer can be removed from the unit and placed on the desk during work.
Above: The sliding panel that hides the fold-away bed can also be used to display artwork or as a painting easel.
Above: All told, the studio has 36 drawers.
Above: In such a small space, opening some drawers means cutting off access to others. The architects gave the artist easiest access to the things she needs most often.
Above: The designers hung gauzy blinds to provide some privacy and plenty of light.
For more storage solutions, see Storage: Well-Curated Wall Shelving; Mint Green from Ontwerpduo in Holland; and on Gardenista, A Writing Shed in the Garden. Looking for small-space solutions? See A Shape-Shifting Studio Apartment in London and Erin's 10 Tips for Living in 240 Square Feet.
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