The studio so far

As we hurtle towards winter the studio is now a recognisable building, not just a huge layer of gravel concrete and block work.

Thanks to Covid and supply chain meltdowns, the gift that keeps on giving, we have seen raw materials rocket in price. Any budget that we might have imagined is just a distant memory.

We stand back and look at the build taking shape, and feel poor but chuffed.

Views to the valley we have never had before the build

Fitting the industrial metal roof

The larch cladding appears and so does a real feel of how the finished building will look

Building in the time of a pandemic

We first had the idea that we should build a studio, workshop, teeny shop about 6 months ago. The aim was to do as much as possible ourselves, except the electrics and plumbing. So here we are at the beginning of spring with foundations laid and the first blocks in place.

Being an architect, and not a builder has its own set of challenges. My husband (the architect) has gone from being in his own word ‘ana’l, to much more realistic about making things ‘good enough’. I am a very willing assistant and look forward to the time we start on the timber work. I fancy myself as a carpenter… we shall see.

Our project starts inside and existing barn with brilliant views that a long last we will be able to enjoy, be inspired by and share with other makers in post pandemic France.

The willing apprentice gluing the insulation to the block work