The architectural space of the artists' loft has accrued a certain image over time. Apart from the mystical association of the studio as an 'ivory tower' as Daniel Buren refers to it in the essay, The Function of the Studio, or the locus of creativity, the appropriation of industrial lofts as studios in the post-war era has ossified the notion that the studio is a bare space, but filled with natural light. Ascetic and quotidian but holding a certain gravitas, as Buren would see it. And while the subject of popular curiosity, these spaces do not warrant as much attention as the objects of architectural intervention. Either artists, through their own efforts, make the space theirs, or they acquire it as is (in the case of the loft). The image, of the productive space of the studio; open, airy, illuminated through skylights and perhaps punctuated with the artists’ work is so pervasive that even today, in a world where rents are exorbitant and artists question where the studio really is; it still draws a certain attention.

A recent renovation exercise by Mexican architects AMASA Estudio presents a fitting study of the artist's loft, refurbished to enhance the aesthetics associated with the ‘ivory tower’ where art is created. The project converts an ancillary floor of the Mexico City-based artist Daniela Riquelme's private residence into an art studio, production workshop and exhibition space. The renovation encompasses opening out the floor through an extension, widening existing openings and installing a sawtooth skylight to let in more natural light.

The space, already being used by the artist for her practice encapsulating painting and jewellery design, had over time become inadequate, due to limitations in space and lighting, as the design team notes in the official release. Hence the refurbishment focused on supplementing the space available for Riquelme to work. The design for the studio is centred on an existing spiral staircase which is the primary point of access. The staircase divides the workshop into two distinct sections. The first half of the studio enjoys access to a terrace that opens out to a tree-lined street, with an open plan where Riquelme can paint or display her works.

The other section is Riquelme’s workspace. Here, the design team focused on ensuring that the interventions provided "ample storage for objects, books and materials essential to Daniela’s creative process". The custom unit that runs along one wall of the studio includes shelving, a drafting table, drawers and a sturdy workbench with a sink, which is placed over the extended floorplate. An existing skylight in this area placed right over the spiral staircase lets in soft light. However, this also required the architects to enlarge the openings, since initially, the space felt dingy and underlit.

Apart from subtly expanding the floor area, the insertion of a sawtooth skylight is perhaps the most significant architectural exercise for the project. It lends the admittedly small space an air of industry, conducive to the emblematic image of the artist’s loft. As noted, the simple yet effective retrofit project also considers the updation of the openings in the studio, introducing vibrant red ironwork frames for the doors and windows. Windows facing east are enlarged with rotating frames that enable cross-ventilation throughout the workshop and the door to the terrace is updated with glass panes, allowing expansive views to the outside. As the studio notes in the official release, "The vibrant colour was chosen as the most representative and evocative of Daniela Riquelme’s artistic work."

For Buren, the artist's studio is the one 'place' where art is allowed to be, without any preemptive associations. Hence it is no surprise that artists making renovations to their spaces to make them more comfortable is common enough to not feel remarkable anymore. Yet, the simple, intimate gestures that make the design of the studio crafted for Riquelme feel thoughtful in their intent, making the workspace more efficient and comfortable.

Project Details

Name: Taller Estudio Daniela Riquelme
Location: Mexico City
Design Team: Andrea López, Agustín Pereyra
Collaborators: Gabino Neri, Oscar Baltazar, Jorge Luis Santiago
Area: 52 sqm
Year of Completion: 2024