The pandemic, the passing of loved ones, and the realization that this house would become a forever home, all inspired the atmosphere and details of this 390 sq ft chapel-like dovecote/studio addition –that, and the comfort of hearing soft, drawn-out coos of Mourning Doves sounding like laments just outside.

A traditional country ‘dovecote’ houses pigeons or doves, sometimes freestanding but often built into the ends of houses or barns. The architect researched the most advantageous height, orientation, proportion, and ventilation to encourage nesting doves –a process that informed both the shape of the exterior and interior space. 

This highly personal and customized project became a site for exploration and play. The owner/architect followed every intuition about details that might contribute to the bespoke space, hoping to stay just this side of ‘too-much.’ What unites the disparate details of this addition is a sense of movement, craft, nature, and serenity.