Hidden Studio

The ‘Hidden Studio’ is a secluded workspace designed for a couple at the end of their garden. As you walk along the garden path, you first encounter a private rear garden, followed by a covered colonnade—creating layers of separation between home and work. The vision behind the project was to create an office that felt distanced from the house and part of the garden from the inside and out, giving a long garden path commute. Internally the quality of natural light was important, reducing solar glare with the colonnade and providing natural task lighting with careful positioning of rooflights over focus spaces. The space creates two interconnected offices (one of which includes a meeting room and kitchenette), a small shower room and a small store.

 
Material selection prioritised local sourcing (to reduce embodied carbon) and sustainability within a budget. Larch from the UK was chosen for the colonnade structure and the cladding. The colonnade structure was sourced from a small local supplier who grew, cut, graded and delivered the columns and beams. European spruce plywood forms the primary internal palette, this material was used for doors (made by the client by glue-laminating the plywood), walls, ceiling, kitchen doors and worktop, shelving and desk. The main building structure is entirely timber, largely Swedish pine joists and German whitewood glulam, steelwork is used only within hidden connection details. 
 
The office is equipped with smart technology, allowing it to be remotely operated from the house. Features include energy-efficient infrared panel heating, smart lighting, and automated blinds, ensuring both comfort and efficiency. Sustainable drainage has been integrated into the design, with the structurally glazed colonnade channeling rainwater into a french pebble drain, which feeds into soakaways beneath.
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