A Garage and Art Studio in East Hampton Designed by Worrell Yeung
Photography by Naho Kubota, courtesy of Worrell Yeung. One of the few bright spots of the Covid lockdown era, at least from our very particular point of view, was the uptick in garage conversions. So they hired architecture firm Worrell Yeung to figure out the puzzle. a tour of the minimalist multi-purpose garage that’s just a stone’s throw from the house but feels far away. The new structure was shimmied into a tight space between the ranch-style house and some trees. At the top of the stairs, which are just behind the cabinets, is an antique chair passed down from McDonaugh’s grandmother. The architects made sure to include a sink in the design so that McDonaugh can easily wash his paint brushes while working in the studio. McDonaugh pictured with his paintings, books, and vintage Akari light. Worrell Yeung worked with Silman Structural Engineers to create structural support that wouldn’t get in the way of the 360-degree views. The walls and floor are lined with birch plywood. The foyer on the lower level is Worrell’s favorite part of the project: “The plywood stair as experience and transition that leads you from the ground floor up to the studio space is such an important moment. It signals a departure from the rituals of the home to a more quiet, subdued space meant for thinking, creating, and observing.” A small powder room next to the stairs. In the powder room, the plywood walls are stained in a semi-sheer Yves Klein blue-like color (a custom Benjamin Moore Arborcoat stain). The exterior’s white pine boards were stained black to match the existing house. When not used to store the couple’s car, the lower level moonlights as an art gallery.