Gather – ASK Studio

Bar Nico

by Brent Schipper· August 09, 2023· in · 0 comments

Bar Nico Bar Nico Craft The space was conceived as a porch. An approachable post-covid space that was open to the sidewalk like a café, but also part of the party…at arm’s length. The success of the space was predicated on the openings of the porch. When closed they needed to be a quiet part of the street’s storefront fabric. When open they needed to make the wall a memory. The owner said he would have “Boonie” make some “doors”. There was eye-rolling amongst the design team. Until they were installed. When closed they needed to be a quiet part of the street’s storefront fabric. When open they needed to make the wall a memory. The hardware was beautiful. The motions and movement are poetic. The levers are art. The straight- line gears look like foliage on a metal seedling. The “doors” are light visually, heavy physically and balanced in both spectrums… This is craft. . Location: Des Moines, IA Program: Commercial Area: 2,000 SF Photo Credits: Cameron Campbell Integrated Studio
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Walnut Creek Park Shelter

by Brent Schipper· November 23, 2021· in · 0 comments

The Walnut Creek Regional Park Shelter is a structure that gives identity to a City’s park system and is the major built component of a regional park. The building uses a simple functional layout with an emphasis on form to create a civic gesture on a modest budget. The shelter contains restrooms and protected cover to the park users. The roof form gives drama to the space and the use of natural materials allows the form to sensitively fit the natural beauty of the site. Brick is used for longevity and low maintenance while the soaring roof form adds warmth to the space conceived as a century structure. The form is set away from the road for privacy of use and to draw people into the park through the invitation of the roof form. The shelter is designed for this place and creates this place. Location: Urbandale, Iowa Program: Government/Civic Area: 2,730 Sq Ft Client: City of Urbandale - Parks and Rec Photo Credits: Joseph Kastner
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Riviera Stage at Riverview Park

by Brent Schipper· June 04, 2021· in · 0 comments

Riverview Park was an amusement park operating from 1915 to 1978. The park included the Riviera Ballroom, a nationally-known venue. No remnants remain. The site is bare. Riviera Stage is the celebration of a city’s history and a neighborhood’s pride. It is a venue for performance intended to echo the purpose and import of the Riviera Ballroom, which once hosted the likes of Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington, Lawrence Welk and Glenn Miller. The modern form of the structure belies a series of historical references woven into the design. The open-air venue harkens back to the Riviera’s original open-air design with open side walls and exterior seating areas, the barrel trusses reflect the past legend’s structure and the stage will rest near the spot where the Duke once thrilled crowds. The design’s celebration is rooted in making a place for a vibrancy that has been hushed for nearly four decades. It creates a spirit of adventure through soaring elements that recall the daring of yesterdays “Coaster” and “Wild Mouse”. It is intended to be magical—just like all the ghost structures of the island. The island will again be home to legends, laughter and dancing. Location: Des Moines, Iowa Client: City […]
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Little Tigers Daycare

by Brent Schipper· December 23, 2020· in · 0 comments

Little Tigers is a new childcare center that creates a safe space for respite and growth - encouraging the first steps on a long journey. The plan is organized to maximize security and control at the main entry, create a separate access for support services, and provide all development spaces with direct access to outdoor play spaces. The simple gabled rectangular building form embraces an economy of structure. Volumes are cut out of this rectangular form to create shelter and a play of light and shadow. The vibrant orange color signifies points of access. Window sizes are scattered at varying heights to speak to an audience of all ages and provide a playful juxtaposition to the geometry of the building form Little Tigers makes these first steps on their journey engaging ones. Location: Adel, IA Program: Education Area: 4000 SF Photo Credits: Joseph Kastner
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Twin Lakes Grocery and Grill

by Brent Schipper· November 25, 2020· in · 0 comments

The Lil’ Store at Twin Lakes was in need of an expansion. The demand for a convenience store/boat fuel/restaurant/bar was booming on the sleepy lake in north central Iowa. The little store needed to be much bigger. The footprint was allowed only minor changes due to set backs, parking and utilities. Zoning regulations had changed significantly since the Lil’ Store was originally built and modified. Some walls were only allowed in their current location if they remained in place. Making the Lil’ Store bigger was limited to going up. As the only commercial entity on the lake, the building merited a unique language. A shed form was chosen to communicate its special role and create a volume that afforded two stories of public gathering spaces with views of the lake. The building is clad in a metal roof element which extends to the ground on the minor facades and frames the common lake home materials of shake siding and stone. The fenestration is lake focused using numerous glass overhead doors that can be opened in mild weather to connect the restaurant /bar component to the terrace and lake beyond. The interior is an inviting fusion of wood, concrete and color. […]
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Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex Concessions

by Brent Schipper· November 24, 2020· in · 0 comments

It is a box. A secure box. A fort. The emulation of the fort upon which this community is founded. Fort: a work established for the defense of a land or maritime frontier, of an approach to a town, or of a pass or river. Although the term originally denoted a small fortification garrisoned by troops, in North America it was used to designate virtually any establishment—civil or military—associated with protection from adversaries, regardless of whether any actual fortifications were included. This fort is designated to protect from the adversaries of weather and to always protect the bounties of Snickers bars and Powerade. The box is skewed from the agrarian grid beyond. It is the hub of the orientation of baseball.The walls are fort-like. A nearly impenetrable concrete with form work echoing the palisades of the historic fort. The high windows ensure security because this fort will stand alone 99% of its existence. The spaces are made pleasant by their daylight. The glow of the evening designates this civil establishment. The structure is timbered. The roof serves as a counterforts of sorts. The strength of the members are obvious. The colors are real. It is a fort that serves the […]
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Aspen Athletic

by Brent Schipper· October 14, 2020· in · 0 comments

Location: Des Moines, IA Program: Gymnasium Area: 25,287 SF Photo Credits: Joseph Kastner
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Smash Park

by Brent Schipper· May 27, 2020· in · 0 comments

ASK Studio provided interior design for this entertainment venue that was unique to the State of Iowa. A venue mixes food and drink with indoor/outdoor games; featuring pickle ball! The design was driven by the client’s vision that was expressed exuberantly and passionately at every design meeting! There was a belief (which became a resounding reality) that there was an untapped demand for an activity space that was the contemporary version of every hometown bowling alley. The goal of the interiors was to represent through material and color the spirit of “fun”.The color scheme was based on the corporate palette. There were flashes of color to guide and direct to reception, rental and food. The atmosphere was dependent on layers affording players and participants individual experiences within a space that can most succinctly be described as an indoor park with a bar.The results are fun. Location: West Des Moines, IowaProgram: CommercialArea: 26, 600 Sq FtClient: Smash Park Des Moines, LLCPhoto Credits: Cameron Campbell Integrated Studio
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Bloomfield Public Library

by Brent Schipper· November 28, 2018· in · 0 comments

The library was a gift from the Carnegie Foundation steeped in heritage and its existing historic fabric was critical. The new addition had to echo this character. We closely read its past through photographs, learning its language. We then wrote a considered sequel. The new roof shrugs beneath the elder roof, a respectful gesture to the latter’s age. Inside new finishes and lighting carefully highlight important features of the old library while enlightening readers. A central entry hall binds the new program to the old structure while giving more visitors access. The project team closely observed every aspect, including a railing in the entry hall and the furniture that would fill the space; in this architecture, as in writing, the punctuation was as important as the narrative. It is a thoughtful extension to a repository of thought. Location: Bloomfield, IA Program: Public Client: City of Bloomfield Photo Credits: Cameron Campbell Integrated Studio
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Captain Roy’s

by Brent Schipper· September 10, 2018· in · 0 comments

It was a shed. It had few distinguishing features. There was a patina. Some caused by fire, some caused by flood and still more caused by an unfortunate choice of paint. The shed seemed to have nothing, except a position. This position is defined as: In a park Along a bike trail Beside a river Near a marina To just a few, it was obvious that this was nirvana. A resurrection was required to make a position into a place. A food truck was to be the gravity to this position. It was orange. A fortunate choice of paint. The shed would protect the food truck, contain bathrooms and a bar. The site would be further defined by an asphalt floor dining room under strings of lights, a deck for thinking and drinking and a performance stage repurposed from an ailing pontoon boat. And bike racks. People came to the position. They came by auto, boat, bike and motor bike. They were fed from the food truck, served drinks from the shed and witnessed music emanating from a grounded pontoon craft. The position is now a place called Captain Roy’s. The color choices have been fortunate. […]
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