The Brief

To create a contemporary detached garden building, which would provide extended, all-year-round living space in an ‘unused and unloved’ area of a garden, occupied by a new property in Didsbury, Manchester.

Our Approach

Working in conjunction with one of our regular builders and their clients, we looked to design a contemporary garden building, which not only met our client’s wish list, but also met the requirements of the environment and neighbouring properties.

In keeping with the materials of the main property, our team designed the building using a combination of red brick and sawn stone ashlar. The design also incorporated bespoke oak support columns and aluminium bi-folding doors, which provided a large, seamless opening into the garden. The building required special foundation design, using a combined pile and raft foundation, due to a tree protection order, which was in place on a neighbouring property. This design ensured planning permission could be granted and the build wouldn’t damage the roots of the protected tree.

Our design also had to consider the concerns and outlook of a neighbouring property. As a result, a sedum roof was incorporated into the design to help the building blend into the existing landscape.

Internally a sociable space was created to incorporate a lounge area, dining/sitting area and a kitchen with running water.

Finally, the design featured a deep roof overhang, providing some external sheltering and an attractive oak boarded underside for recess lighting, creating the ambiance and environment our clients were looking for.

The Result

A fabulous self-contained, daytime living space, compromising of a lounge, dining area and kitchen which utilises an unused area of the garden, for our clients to enjoy, all year round.



The Client said:

“We are really happy with the final building, I am sure you can see why! Many thanks again to you, Dave and Kim for a great design and implementation! We love it, it makes the garden look so much bigger as it uses the unloved and unused area very well”