The facade and deck of the studio are made of Ipe wood, which is both durable and fire-resistant — a huge benefit for someone living in fire country.
In one of the primary designs for the studio, the client wanted the deck to go all the way around the studio. "It became a bit smaller, and then a bit bigger," laughs Mitchell. "Finally, we adjusted it to what it is now, which I think is perfect for the space."
The steep hillside became a pretty big challenge. "It was difficult to just get all the materials on the site and work on the building because of the steepness and height of the hill," says Mitchell. "We had to really build a strong foundation, which took a while."