Project Statement

Nestled along the Tanglewood Branch Creek in Fayetteville, Trailside Yoga reimagines a battle-scarred mechanical shop into a serene community space where yoga is practiced along the trail. The stark white exterior is layered with custom landscape trellises, allowing native vines to transform the industrial block into a living green facade. These trellises extend around a steel entry portal, blending the natural environment with the manmade structure as people enter their yoga experience. This harmonious duality, like the practice of yoga, is meant to create calm and understanding of one’s surroundings as vines engulf the lobby entrance porch.

Large glass openings and garage doors create a visual and physical connection between interior and exterior yoga studios, allowing nature to play an active role in the daily practice. A large yoga deck was added as an extension to the main studio and can house classes independently, surrounded by trees and flowing water. This private exterior space is completely contained allowing the small downtown Fayetteville business to have its own slice of tranquility among a rapidly growing metropolis.

This design project represents a full-circle journey fueled by the client’s unwavering spirit and dedication. Transitioning from a daily lunchtime yoga instructor and business owner to a commercial developer, she sought to accommodate an expanding community and growing class sizes. Beyond merely increasing the studio footprint for practice, the finished space serves as a physical realization of what can be achieved through a commitment to people and a consistent devotion to one’s core mission.