Omar Gandhi Designs Hybrid Studio and Home in Prince Edward Island
Architect Omar Gandhi and furniture maker Brodye Chappell collaborate on an agrarian residence.
1Agrarian Landscape Collaboration
Omar Gandhi Architects partnered with furniture maker Brodye Chappell to design a dual-purpose home and studio. Located in Marshfield, Prince Edward Island, the structure sits lightly beside an active horse farm. The design intent focuses on creating a minimal, striking silhouette directly aligned with the surrounding agricultural terrain.
2Hands-On Craftsmanship and Execution
Client Brodye Chappell, owner of Chappell Custom Homes, directed the construction process alongside local island tradespeople, friends, and colleagues. In addition to contributing ongoing design input, Chappell personally crafted the interior millwork and bespoke furniture pieces, executing the entire build progressively during evenings and available weekends over several months.
3Reinterpreting Rural Vernacular Forms
The architectural layout borrows heavily from traditional agricultural archetypes, featuring elongated rooflines and minimalist profiles. Omar Gandhi Architects paired a classic gable roof with an extended hip structure. This geometric approach abstracts rural vernacular forms into sharper, leaner volumes, creating an intentional architectural statement across the open countryside.
4Courtyard Spatial Configuration
The residence splits into two primary volumes separated by a central courtyard designed to shield occupants from Atlantic coastal winds. Shared living quarters occupy one wing, while the dedicated woodworking studio anchors the other. This programmatic division maintains a clear functional boundary while fostering visual dialogue between work and domesticity.
5Protective Corrugated Envelope
Light-grey corrugated metal wraps continuously down the roof slopes and exterior walls to withstand intense seasonal weather. This durable envelope protects interiors from summer sun, severe seasonal rainfall, and heavy winter snow. Vertical glass apertures and black detailing punctuate the reflective metallic facade, which subtly mirrors shifting sky conditions.
6Distinct Interior Materiality
The interior palette delivers a deliberate contrast between domestic warmth and industrial utility. Living spaces feature natural wood finishes, curated artwork, and delicate pendant fixtures. Conversely, the adjacent workshop incorporates raw concrete floors, exposed framing, and ample wall storage organized specifically for woodworking tools, raw timber, and building materials.
7Integrated Functional Thresholds
Architectural thresholds delineate varying levels of access throughout the property. The primary bedroom suite extends onto a private porch beneath the low hip roof slope. On the studio elevation, movable wooden slats integrate with a concealed glass garage door, allowing the workspace to expand seamlessly into the exterior landscape.
8Integrated Live-Work Architecture
The Chappell Residence exemplifies a slow, intentional building methodology rooted in personal labor, craft, and site context. By merging residential functions with bespoke industrial manufacturing spaces under a unified corrugated shell, the project establishes a cohesive structural model where domestic routine and specialized artisanal production operate in complete architectural harmony.