Artisans Asylum
Artisan’s Asylum is a nonprofit collaborative dedicated to supporting local artists and innovators, and is a vital component of Boston’s creative infrastructure. In partnership with Harvard University Real Estate, they doubled their space by relocating from Somerville to Allston in 2021.
After an exhaustive search for a new home, Artisan’s Asylum found the ideal partner in Harvard University Real Estate and their vision for the Allston area. Having guided Artisan’s Asylum through the space search process, Analogue Studio was able to immediately dive into designing the space to meet the needs of the artists who rely on it. This began with an open forum with members to discuss current usage and future wishes.
In programming each building, careful consideration was given not only to the relationship of the studios and workshops, but also to the infrastructure needed to support different types of fabrication from welding to screen printing. Beyond the workshops, the space also brings natural light to communal areas that host and community forums and events to nurture the community that is the core of the organization.
Analogue Studio and the design-build General Contractor developed a strong partnership, successfully navigating a complex tenant-landlord dynamic and project structure through clear documentation of their respective scopes and open communication. Throughout Construction Administration, the team met regularly to monitor progress and proactively address any potential challenges to keep the project running smoothly.
Boston MA
Photography: Bob O’Connor