The following come to mind……

work table the proper height with area for grinder close by

plenty of storage for glass and other equipment

flooring that won't be hard on the feet after standing a long time but easy to clean up glass bits

plenty of electrical outlets for toys…..    I mean tools    

Are you thinking about getting a kiln later (If you don't have one now)?  Sometimes they require 220 electrical whatever.

Vernelle

it depends upon what you're going to do.

creating your own molds, either with plaster or ceramics? need to do clay molds (wheel, slab roller)?

you typically need 5 or more distinct areas: wet, kiln, blasting, design, building.

wet: potters wheel. mold making with plaster or dry ceramics. wet tools like tile saws, bandsaws, wet belt sanders, flat bed sander. vibrolaps. needs a floor drain leading to the drive/garden, not to the sewer/septic. needs a large wet sink and hose taps.

kiln: power plugs, 220v 60a at least for a midsized kiln. higher power for large coffin kilns. dry. ventilated to the outside but sealable from the rest of the studio

blasting: place for a compressor. outside ventilation. blasting cabinet. perhaps a remote compressor to remove noise from working space. dry. air conditioned.

design: quiet place to sit and draw. ac required. perhaps music, internet, tv.

building: lots of counters. at least 1 large table 4'x8'. light box table. racks for glass sheets. shelves for frit bottles, mold/shelf storage, small glass pieces in boxes (i use clear shoe boxes, which stack, for scrap). power plugs for soldering irons on tables. power for grinders or small band saw. small wet sink and counter. running water. ac required. piped in music (wifi?).

if you're going to do any other work: ceramics (throwing, glazing, etc), woodwork (bases, cabinets, etc), stone (bases for objects, granite/marble work), , that may add additional requirements, but not a lot different.

Wonder if this Studio ever got put together and what was included in the set up?

fidstudio said:

Hi Boris

My studio is still in the planning stages and I'm working closely with the builder currently on lighting, ventilation & windows.   Ground is being leveled but so far it is going to be a 15' x 24' building with 2 walls of windows, entry door, hot and cold water for bathroom & utility sink, and some built in cabinetry for storage.  Lots of wiring is scheduled for electricity and a line for 220, just in case.

Still trying to figure out what to put up on the inside walls (no sense it it being finished), but it will have A/C & heat.  Central TX gets terribly hot and humid in the summers.

I have two work tables (4'x6' & 2/x4'), & 2 hard plastic tables to come and as well as my old wretched dining room table.   I have built in glass bend/racks under the two large tables and for the time being and will continue to use a shipping crated for large sheets of glass.  This is going to be a financial stretch, so real glass bins will come later.

any thoughts or suggestions are welcomed.

Regards,

Frankie

SOunds like your getting along pretty well.  Its surprising what one can do with little space is its utilized to its fullest extent. In small spaces, every inch counts, and you have to get imaginative at times. My hobby shop is not all that big, considering what I have there to work with, from 4 kilns to a lathe, but there is no wasted space.  Some equipment is put away, if not being used, and bench placed only when it needs to be used. Other stuff has a permanent place, especially if too heavy to move around. 

Look forward to seeing some pictures.

How in the heck did you manage that Graham? When I was younger I owned & sailed throughout the Caribbean on a 36' ketch for close to a year & by the end of the trip I was beginning to think that I was living in a shoebox. Soon after that experience I traded up to a 39' Morgan ketch which had half again the room even though it was only 6' longer. The trade off for a much broader beamed boat was a reduction in speed. On a very good day with a stiff wind & flying my best sails would only get me 8 knots.

I miss not being able to sail solo.

I had a bigger place for a shop, when I rented a commercial building in an industrial section, but it was hard to justify having it for just my hobbies, and It was about 1/2 mile away from home.  I opted for a smaller shop and a seperate storage building at another location, and it works for me. I store all my parts, lamps and most of my glass at the storage place, and only bring home what I am working with at that time.  At least, this way, I can keep most of my tooling and equipment at home. The ideal "Hobby Shop" to achieve, for me, is one that has everything you need to do any craftsmans Hobby, be it iworking with  glass, metal, rocks, wood, paints, or anything else.  At least you never get bored.  At this point, I am almost done, and can not think of much more to add.  Good thing too, since I am out of room, and had to make major chnages each time another "Hobby" was added.