Caslin Building, Owensboro KY

(collaborator: Steve Hoffman)

Commissioned by an attorney who is also an Aikido martial arts master, this somewhat improbable mixed–use building on the outskirts of a small Midwestern city contains his law office, dojo (school), and residence.

The building turns its back on the suburban context, toward the oasis of a central courtyard. Each of the three main zones has its own entrance to provide clear orientation and privacy.

The primary construction system is precast concrete wall and roof panels. This has the practical advantages of economy and sound attenuation; aesthetically, it provides a suitably ascetic, Zen-like ambience to the diverse  activities within. That said, the client’s apartment is painted in a richly polychromatic palette.