Roman Bauer Arquitectos has completed an innovative photography studio, workshop, and exhibition space in Barranco, Lima's renowned bohemian district in Peru. The project serves as a creative hub for both local and visiting photographers, featuring a thoughtfully designed layout that centers around two landscaped courtyards connected by a spacious central workspace. The studio exemplifies modern architectural design while respecting the artistic character of the historic neighborhood.
The architectural layout creates a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces through strategic design elements. Visitors enter through a welcoming forecourt where cantilevered planters introduce abundant greenery before accessing the main hall. The design incorporates fully retractable sliding doors that establish continuous circulation from the entry courtyard through the interior spaces to a second sunlit garden at the rear. This main workspace connects to additional functional areas including a compact kitchen and two flexible rooms that can serve as private offices or temporary accommodations for visiting artists.
The studio's structural design combines reinforced concrete block walls with an impressive timber roof supported by large steel trusses. Roman Bauer Arquitectos created a distinctive folding roofline that gently descends from the second-floor office toward the rear courtyard. Four rectangular skylights punctuate the roof structure, fitted with operable upper windows operated by pulley systems that flood the studio with natural daylight and promote effective cross-ventilation. The architects specifically designed these overhead apertures with proportions that echo the traditional lanterns and ceiling lights found in Barranco's historic houses.
The material palette showcases a thoughtful blend of local and contemporary elements throughout the space. Huayruro wood, a commonly used timber in Peru, features extensively in carpentry elements including partitions, framing, built-in furniture, and the staircase leading to the upper level. This warm wood creates a striking tonal contrast against the cool concrete walls. The interior walls display smoothly finished exposed stone, while the courtyard walls feature textured relief surfaces that serve dual purposes as mounting points for hidden lighting systems or support for climbing plants.
The flooring design extends the interior aesthetic into the outdoor spaces through handcrafted yellow terrazzo tiles laid throughout the first level and continuing into the rear garden. A distinctive concrete slat planter surrounds a ceibo tree in the garden area, creating an intimate outdoor room atmosphere. The design success stems from the compelling contrast between austere stone walls at eye level and the complex, warm-toned roof structure that draws attention upward and creates visual interest.
Only essential service areas including bathrooms and a darkroom receive full enclosure, preserving the open and adaptable character that defines the overall plan. This flexible approach supports both focused photographic work and accommodates public gatherings or gallery-style installations. The studio's spatial sequencing, abundant ambient sunlight, and expressive material palette combine to create a dynamic creative environment.
Through its innovative use of courtyards and precisely engineered roof structure, Roman Bauer Arquitectos has delivered a workspace that balances adaptability with quiet architectural expression. The project successfully provides a versatile setting for creative production and exhibitions, meeting the diverse needs of both local photographers and visiting artists while honoring Barranco's established artistic heritage and architectural traditions.
