The inception of Gallery Shed was born after a long, warm conversation with a retired couple aiming for something different.  For over a decade they had been collecting clippings and articles of ‘modern homes’ and had a good idea that their dream home involved a design that was unconventional.  While busy filing their clippings, they also kept active adding to an ever-growing art collection.  As the days turned to years, their current residence became more of an art storage warehouse rather than the place they called home. 

With the pathways through the house narrowing, they took to purchasing a parcel of land in Jackson, WI.  It was upon this breath-taking landscape they would build their new ‘unconventional’ dream home.  Their new home would display their eclectic collection of art ranging from small, intricate bronze study sculptures to large contemporary pop art pieces over seven feet in length.  The end goal was to ‘live’ with their collection as they traversed the house and they were also adamant that the home itself would be sculptural in its form, reflecting their art. 

“The process seems thoughtful and intentional, and I thought the end result was beautiful.”

Janette Blackburn, FAIA (2023 Design Awards Juror)

Prior to touching ink to paper, we met the clients at the newly purchased lot to get a feel for the site and allow the land to bring forth thoughtful decisions contributing to form and placement.  The views were breathtaking as we framed them with our hands and looked toward the horizon.  These moments were not forgotten and played a key role in fenestration placement within rooms and on the façade.  The home’s windows became art themselves, opening views of new and ever-changing landscape paintings of everyday life.

In addition to the views, the overall form and exterior of the home took inspiration from the metal-clad utilitarian machine sheds that dot the surrounding rural Wisconsin landscape.  Low maintenance and sleek, the corrugated metal once again reflects the ever-changing mood of the sky and allows the home to nestle into its farmland surroundings.    

On the interior, a series of skylights are placed down the axis of the main living area.  The bank of light provides the ability to illuminate the artwork without admitting direct sunlight onto the objects.  It is below this bank of illumination that the bulk of the collection is displayed.  A large percentage of their most treasured pieces live on a custom steel framework forming a dividing wall between the public space of the house and the private corridor leading to the bedrooms.  The framework is adjustable and allows the homeowners to curate new visual experiences echoing the changing scenery as they view the landscape transition through the seasons. 

“A beautiful project paying homage to the shed vernacular.”

Todd Hoehn (2023 Design Awards Juror)

In short, Gallery Shed is an exercise in creating a place for art, life, and landscape to merge into a full embodied experience.  It also demonstrates the thoughtfulness of design and how it can bring life to unconventional space while utilizing conventional construction methods and budgetary consciousness.