{"id":1380,"date":"2025-10-04T17:00:47","date_gmt":"2025-10-04T17:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laurenhwhite.com\/?p=1380"},"modified":"2025-10-06T10:43:56","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T10:43:56","slug":"derrington-building-studio-designs-intentionally-practical-offices-in-austin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laurenhwhite.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/04\/derrington-building-studio-designs-intentionally-practical-offices-in-austin\/","title":{"rendered":"Derrington Building Studio designs “intentionally practical” offices in Austin"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Derrington<\/div>\n

Austin<\/a>-based Derrington Building Studio has constructed its own office<\/a> in the Texas<\/a> city using exposed framing and raw materials with reference to “American industrial practicality”. <\/span><\/p>\n

Derrington Building Studio<\/a>, led by principal Tim Derrington, designed the modest structure for a corner lot in the Montopolis neighbourhood.<\/p>\n

\"Exterior
Derrington Building Studio’s Austin office is designed to be simple yet impactful<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With a 1,000-square-foot (93-square-metre) footprint, the “intentionally practical” building was laid out with the idea that it could eventually be converted into a dwelling.<\/p>\n

“When we began the journey to create our new home base, practicality was paramount,” said Derrington. “We had clear-eyed constraints from day one: affordability, simplicity of construction, and the foresight to design a space that could easily transition from an architectural studio today into a comfortable residence tomorrow.”<\/p>\n

\"Architect's
Instead of using a cavity wall system, the timber framing is exposed inside the studio space<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Instead of using a typical cavity-wall construction \u2013 which can harbour moisture, mould, mildew, pests, and plumbing or electrical problems \u2013 the team opted to expose the timber framing inside.<\/p>\n

In this way, all of the building components and service elements remain on show as architectural details, and so were carefully considered during the design process<\/p>\n

\"Architect's
A skylight brings in additional light, and shelves are installed between the structural elements<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Polyisocyanurate insulation was then added to the exterior and wrapped in corrugated metal Galvalume siding \u2013 chosen for its low-maintenance durability and to reflect solar heat.<\/p>\n

“We deliberately eschewed complicated, costly detailing that would necessitate external specialists,” Derrington said. “Every feature \u2014 from framing to finish \u2014 was intentionally selected and overseen by our team itself.”<\/p>\n

\"Deep
The kitchen and the bathroom exterior walls are coloured deep blue, contrasting with the exposed timber<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A flat canopy extends from the gabled building to form a generously sized covered porch, which is flanked by a raised flower bed and incorporates an external storage unit and an outdoor sink.<\/p>\n

Inside, the exposed timber structure takes influences from Japanese, Scandinavian and Alpine architectural traditions.<\/p>\n

\"Minimally
The kitchen and storage are minimally detailed, with lights installed behind to highlight the ceiling structure<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“The old timber traditions of those cultures were reinterpreted through a lens of American industrial practicality, highlighting the beauty inherent in raw, responsibly applied materials,” said Derrington.<\/p>\n

The angled beams rise over an open studio room with large white desks for the team to work around, and shelving is built into the sections of wall that aren’t taken up by windows.<\/p>\n