Mr. Y. is a professional photographer and he was looking to a build a fully creative photography studio in his garden, which would allow him to work from home and save having to travel into London every day. The home office had to be able to support the heavy equipment he uses as part of his work, so we designed a structurally reinforced floor which has worked extremely well.

Mr. Y. also wanted a modern garden office with a black timber finish to complement the rest of his outdoor space and blend in with the main house. For this, we used sugi ban cladding – a traditional Japanese technique where the wood is charred, which helps to preserve the material for longer. Our team charred and treated the cladding on site prior to installation. We also installed some bi-fold doors which allow a light, airy open space during the warmer months.

One challenge our team faced with this project is the client wanted the garden room built into an offset corner (not a right angle). Our designers came up with a L-shaped structure which limited any unused space.

Having a studio in my garden has transformed my business and my motivation. Before, I was undertaking commercial food photography in my domestic kitchen which was incredibly challenging. I now have a dedicated creative space which I can close the door on when each shoot finishes. No spending hours clearing everything away! Plus, I’m not having to spend money on renting a studio and travelling to it – I just take a few steps into our garden!