The 2021 lockdown provided an opportunity to develop a small-scale prototype for a self-funded and self-built garden studio that provides a separate workplace for a small London dwelling.
The studio is nestled in the well established garden and sits opposite the house to instill a greater sense of enclosure. It has been designed to feel embedded within the outdoors and the large window swings open to transform the studio into an outdoor room. The small studio is insulated and can be used throughout the year with an underfloor electric heat matt providing additional warmth.
The build uses a rational and low-cost structure that is built using simple power tools and from materials available at a high street builders merchants. A challenge of the build was to remove the need for wet trades, including concrete, for simplicity, the environment and the expense. The use of steel screw piles removed excessive ground works and precise levelling. The 800mm deep screws provided a foundation for the timber raft base. The walls and roof were designed as a series of rational timber frames that were each built horizontally and lifted vertically for ease of construction within a limited time frame, due to juggling a full time job and the build process. The window and door were sized to be inserted into the prescribed timber frame dimensions.
Re-use has been at the core of the studio design with all materials being biodegradable or reusable in the future. In the short term, the internal furniture isn’t fixed and can be removed to create a flexible space with multiple uses, such as an exercise room, a music room or a simple potting shed.
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