roman bauer arquitectos designs photographers studio in lima, peru

a photographers’ workshop for an artist neighborhood

Peru-based practice Roman Bauer Arquitectos takes to Lima’s bohemian district of Barranco to design a studio, workshop, and exhibition space for photographers. The project is organized around two landscaped courtyards that frame a lofty central workspace. Visitors enter through a forecourt where cantilevered planters infuse the space with greenery before reaching the main hall. Sliding doors retract fully to create a continuous flow from the entry courtyard through the interior and into a second sunlit garden at the rear.

This main space is joined by a small kitchen and two flexible rooms that function as more private offices or even temporary bedrooms for visiting artists. Only the bathrooms and a darkroom are fully enclosed, preserving the open, adaptable character of the plan. The layout supports both focused photographic work and the possibility of public gatherings or gallery-style installations.

images © Juan Solano Ojasi

roman bauer sculpts a folding roofline

With the structure of its photographers workshop, Roman Bauer Arquitectos combines reinforced concrete block walls with a timber roof supported by large steel trusses. The roofline folds gently, descending from the second-floor office toward the rear courtyard, and is punctuated by four rectangular skylights. These overhead apertures, fitted with operable upper windows on pulley systems, fill the studio with daylight and encourage cross-ventilation. The architects note that their proportions recall the lanterns and ceiling lights of Barranco’s traditional houses.

Huayruro wood, a common wood in Peru, is used extensively across carpentry elements, including partitions, framing, furniture, and the staircase to the upper level, lending a warm tonal contrast to the cool concrete walls. Inside, walls of exposed stone are smoothly finished, while the courtyard’s walls show a textured relief that doubles as a surface for hidden lighting or climbing plants.

a studio and workshop for photographers opens in Barranco, Peru

a studio between two courtyards

Flooring throughout the first level is laid in handcrafted yellow terrazzo tiles that extend into the rear garden. There, a planter of concrete slats surrounds a ceibo tree, creating the atmosphere of an outdoor room. The success of the interiors lies in the contrast between the austere stone walls at eye-level and the complex, warm-toned structure which caps the space and draws the eye upward.

The project comes to life with its spatial sequencing, ambient sunlight, and a palette of expressive materials. Through its courtyards and finely tuned roof structure, Roman Bauer Arquitectos has created a workspace that is at once adaptable and quietly expressive, bringing a versatile setting for creative production as well as exhibitions. In this way, it serves the needs of both local and visiting photographers, and respects the artistic character of historic Barranco.

Roman Bauer Arquitectos designed the flexible studio and exhibition space