location: charleston, sc // andrew pinckney inn
this cozy inn is situated where the ansonbourgh neighborhood melts into the market + french quarter areas of the downtown charleston peninsula in an area where commerce industry employees + owners once called home in close proximity to where they worked on the docks or in the business district.
here, shades of early architecture designed in response to the hot + humid conditions well before a time of air conditioning + can be seen in the large windows, carefully laid out alleyways + paths to allow for the breeze to sweep by, thru + around the residences. little courtyards fill the spaces to allow shade to be grown.
the building that houses the inn has an unmistakable charm of a number of buildings melded together over centuries to create its current form. from the street you feel as if you are standing in what was once a courtyard of a single family residence. blended throughout the inn are former courtyards that still echo their original forms + functions while bringing a new use to life.
all of the different components are little gems telegraphing past uses. windows follow thru from the exterior of the building to the current + former interior courtyards. those areas still provide a break for natural light even if with modern air conditioning their secondary use for air flow is no longer used. throughout the meandering stairs + corridors every open area that is stumbled upon reveals a former courtyard that was intended to provide a respite from the heat via air flow + dappled natural light. while not the current use, the ability for it to be re-opened + re-imagined still fits within its soul ready to provide respite from the sweltering lowcoutnry heat, even if only visually…for now.
looking for more images from our trip to charleston? visit the porch!
pencil + ink creative 