When the construction numbers came back for Worrell Yeung’s artist studio design in Westerly, Rhode Island, everyone had to pause and recalibrate. The ground-up approach they'd developed was simply too expensive for the clients' needs and lifestyle. This moment led them back to the initial design prompt and sketches. 

Rather than seeing this as a setback, Jejon Yeung and Max Worrell, co-founders of Worrell Yeung, discovered that working with the existing horse stable structure resulted in a space with more character and historical layering than the big and bold remodel would have achieved. 

Their approach to transforming the barn demonstrates how adaptive reuse can honor what has value while breathing new life into a property. The material strategy exemplifies this even further: wrapping the entire structure in asphalt roofing sheets to create a unified envelope, maintaining the exposed timber frame and inserting plywood volumes for functional needs.

Beyond Studio Barn, this conversation explores how Worrell Yeung draws inspiration from artists to inform architectural projects. From a Long Island glass house inspired by Sol LeWitt's grid sculptures to an upstate New York property that references Michael Heizer's "Double Negative," they demonstrate how art can provide formal and conceptual frameworks for residential architecture. Their approach to adaptive reuse extends across functions, from renovating MoMA's Founders Room to expanding a historic chapel for The Evergreens Cemetery, always guided by the philosophy that adaptive reuse should both preserve and innovate.

Episode Outline

(01:40) The collaborative studio environments that shaped their practice

(08:16) Building a diverse team and trusted collaborator network

(12:10) The Studio Barn project origins and working with artist clients

(17:37) Creating flexible workspace for two different artistic practices

(24:37) Solving infrastructure challenges while preserving the timber frame structure

(32:19) Turning inspiration into tangible design 

(38:56) Common challenges in adaptive reuse and designing for future use cases 

(41:02) Three principles for successful adaptive reuse projects

Additional Resources

Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email [email protected] to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back.

Learn more about Studio Barn

Check out artists and Studio Barn owners Ari Marcopoulos and Kara Walker 

Learn more about Frame House 

Learn more about Ridge House

Watch 6 Secrets Architects Use to Create a Calming Retreat with Worrell Yeung (Design Masterclass) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkXhqrUh01s 

Listen to Episode 9 with Kim Yao 

Connect with Jejon and Maxwell

Connect with Jejon on LinkedIn 

Connect with Maxwell on LinkedIn

Learn more about Worrell Yeung on their website 

More From American Building 

Grab the exclusive guide: How Eight Developers & Designers Are Responding to The Housing Crisis  

Learn more on the American Building website

Follow on LinkedIn

Follow on Instagram

Connect with Atif Qadir on LinkedIn

Learn more about Michael Graves Architecture & Design 

Watch this episode on YouTube