The Dragonfly Shed
Commissioned Project
in collaboration with Jola Piotrowska
2020 - Ongoing
in collaboration with Jola Piotrowska
2020 - Ongoing
The Dragonfly Shed was commissioned as the winning design by Grizedale Arts, the Lake District, in 2020 following an open call competition. The project was designed to be be built by a group of local women who were interested in gaining on site construction skills.
The brief sought to create a functioning shed and workspace for the rice paddy fields at Grizedale. We wanted for the design to be a visual nod to the Japanese Rice Farmers who originally created these fields, and the landscape they brought with them. We therefore drew inspiration from the abundance of dragonflies that are normally found in Japanese rice paddies. Featuring a butterfly roof, and clad in smoked ceramic tiles, the design seeks to sit comfortably in the landscape of the fields and the view on to Conniston.
Working with the volunteers and Grizedale, the design has been adapted and adjusted since it began on site in 2020 as a slow self build project. Whilst elements within the project were designed to be undertaken in workshop style settings, donated materials such as windows have been incorporated into the design.
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The brief sought to create a functioning shed and workspace for the rice paddy fields at Grizedale. We wanted for the design to be a visual nod to the Japanese Rice Farmers who originally created these fields, and the landscape they brought with them. We therefore drew inspiration from the abundance of dragonflies that are normally found in Japanese rice paddies. Featuring a butterfly roof, and clad in smoked ceramic tiles, the design seeks to sit comfortably in the landscape of the fields and the view on to Conniston.
Working with the volunteers and Grizedale, the design has been adapted and adjusted since it began on site in 2020 as a slow self build project. Whilst elements within the project were designed to be undertaken in workshop style settings, donated materials such as windows have been incorporated into the design.
