12 Houses with Art Studios in Latin America

Living and Creating: 12 Houses with Art Studios in Latin America
The places where artists create their works reveal diverse narratives about their creative progress, their choice of techniques, and their themes. These are places that preserve the memory, intimacy, and affection of the creators. For some, isolation and distance from any possible distraction are the hallmarks of their studio. For others, their space requires escape and freedom. Not infrequently, the studio becomes a home or the house becomes a studio, blending uses, desires, and needs. Situated on the threshold between living and creating, leisure and craft, these spaces fascinate art lovers, often being reconstructed within art galleries or transformed into museums over time. A unique place, independent of the scope of the works, which demonstrates the peculiar interaction between the creative process, the works of art, and the artist's image. Through the apparent disorder portrayed in the photographs of Picasso's domestic interiors, Ábalos discusses the "phenomenological house," asserting that what gives meaning to the home are the essentially affective relationships with objects, surrounding the inhabitant with sentimental collections like a visible inventory of their memory. The house-studios are tasked with this mission: to strengthen the bonds between artists and their works, generating environments that provide the comfort and protection necessary for creativity to flourish. In this sense, it is not unusual for the artists themselves to participate in the project as co-authors, bringing spatial ideas that extrapolate their artistic objects and also gain representativeness in the architecture.
To reinforce this link, various examples throughout the history of architecture—especially in modernism—demonstrate the profound connection between house and studio, as well as between architect and artist. Among them, the House for the painter Ozenfant by Le Corbusier (Paris, 1922) and the Charles and Ray Eames House (Los Angeles, 1945-49) stand out, part of the Case Study House program. During the spread and consolidation of modernism in Latin America, the House for Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo by Juan O'Gorman (Mexico City, 1929-30) and the House of Luis Barragán for José Clemente Orozco (Guadalajara, 1936-38) stand out. In Brazil, the residence of the artist Tomie Ohtake (São Paulo, 1966-68) – designed by her son, Ruy Ohtake – is also notable.
With so many famous examples, the complexity of these spaces and the different forms they take according to the context and the needs of the artist are evident. Therefore, we selected 15 home-studio projects that illustrate this intrinsic relationship, set against the backdrop of contemporary Latin America. Some are located in remote areas, functioning as true creative refuges, while others are integrated into existing residences or conceived from the ground up to unite living and workspace. Regardless of the strategy adopted, all demonstrate how art and life can intertwine in a harmonious and inspiring way.
Artistic refuges: when nature is the inspiration

Located in remote areas, these spaces offer an environment of total immersion in creation. Often located in the midst of nature, they foster concentration and introspection, allowing artists to disconnect from urban distractions and dedicate themselves entirely to their work. Furthermore, the surrounding landscape can be a constant source of inspiration.

Herrera House – Workshop / Cekada-Romanos Architects

Workshop House at the Pirihueico Warehouse / Martin Schmidt Radic Associated Architects

Atelier House / LOMA Arq +

El Capacio Workshop House / Grupo Culata Jovái + Tekoha Architects + uno3arq

Residential Annexes: Art Gains Space

Workshops inserted as annexes to existing houses are a practical solution for those who want to integrate domestic life and creative work without major structural renovations. These spaces can occupy adapted rooms, converted garages, or small independent buildings in the garden. The easy access and partial separation between living and working provide a balance between the two activities.

Daniela Riquelme Studio Workshop / AMASA Estudio

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