The bead studio was a 300 sq. ft. studio for a Cochiti Pueblo Native American bead maker. This project was the first part of correlating project  "The Cochiti Pueblo House." The studio was to be constructed of a dyed reinforced concrete structure; it also featured a double envelope and evaporative cooling.



The studios octagonal shape was chosen as an abstract and spiritual representation of New Mexico's Zia symbol on the flag. The red sun symbol is circular with sixteen rays on it, four on the N, S, W, E directions. Four is the sacred umber representing the four directions, the four seasons, the four sacred obligations, and the four winds. The octagonal shape, with its faces and corners, makes sixteen, representing the rays on the flag. This correlation also ties to the Native Americans deep spiritual lifestyles.

The use of sustainable design was a huge aspect of this studio. The vegetation growing on the outside envelope would allow for evaporative cooling, to keep the studio and buffer space cool for the morning hours. Once this effect was null, the reinforced concrete structure would take effect and collect any heat build-up throughout the day, still keeping the interior of the studio cool. Once nighttime arrived, the heat build up in the concrete walls would radiate inside the studio, warming it up during the cool hours. The thermal massing process along with evaporative cooling would allow for the client to use the studio at anytime of day without temperature exhaustion.