People are making great use of the space available to them in lots of interesting ways. Whether it is summer houses at the end of gardens, home gyms hidden in basements sheds re-purposed for home offices and attics used for extra bedrooms and bathrooms. There is a whole lot you can do with even the smallest and most insignificant spaces. Particularly with some ingenious planning and architectural know-how.
Hidden In Plain Sight
Waltham Forest is a beautiful and culturally important London Borough, particularly if you are a fan of heavy metal or the UK grime music scene, as it is home to both Iron Maiden and artists such as Lethal Bizzle. Most properties look fairly normal, but to the back of an unassuming Walthamstow Village private property, is something a little out of the norm.
Magical Place To Work Out
The project known as Garden Studio Gym is hidden in plain sight by a cedar wooden facade. EastWest Architecture has taken a traditional garden shed, with walls constructed from birch plywood and a modern interior, to create an interesting use of space. There are openings in the ceilings and walls that make what is a relatively small space feel a whole lot bigger and less oppressive. Based on the pictures, it looks kind of magical at night time too.
More Than Just A Gym Or An Office
As the name Garden Studio Gym suggests, it has been designed primarily as a home gym and there is even a hidden connection for a punching bag that can be removed. The flooring has been designed with this purpose in mind too, with a black rubber flooring. However, the architects at EastWest Architecture have carefully designed the space with versatility in mind. Without a punching bag and with a desk and computer set-up, the Garden Studio Gym can become a home office or with a couple of mats and a sound system, it can become a yoga studio.
A Little About The Architects
EastWest Architecture was established by the RIBA chartered and ARB registered architect Dean Smith who has worked on a wide range of different projects from residential buildings in Tokyo and London to New York pavilion spaces. The way he approaches project, as a lead consultant, is by combining the process of creative design with performance, with robustness and quality at the forefront. The team that works alongside him on projects at EastWest, includes two other architects, an architectural designer, architectural assistant and a financial consultant.
Even if you are unable to avail yourself of Dean Smith and EastWest’s skills, the Garden Studio Gym serves as a great example of what can be achieved in a relatively small space. It shows just what can be done by making full use of natural light. Sometimes you just have to adjust designs to fit in with available space, rather than finding usable space to fit your designs. We are sure you will agree that the Garden Studio Gym is an amazing accomplishment and we honestly are rather envious of the property owners who get to use that perfect little room.
Images courtesy of Naaro Photographers / Eastwest Architecture
