Five-sided garden annexe
Five walls and not one right angle — a 30 square metre home shaped to the boundary fences so no space was left stranded behind it.
This is far from a standard garden annexe; it has been cleverly designed to maximise the available space in the garden. As bespoke design specialists, Executive Garden Rooms are not restricted to a standard range of buildings, allowing them to create a design that works with the site.
At a glance
- Size: 30 square metres of living space, on a five-sided plan with no wall intersection at 90 degrees.
- Why: the boundary fences do not meet at right angles, so a square building would have left dead space behind it.
- Layout: open plan, zoned for cooking, dining, living and sleeping, with a half-height wall screening the bed from the sofa.
- The kitchen: set in a recess beside the shower room and airing cupboard, with a seating and dining area built into the end of the units.
- Water: a 125-litre pressurised system, tucked into an airing cupboard that doubles as storage for bedding.
- Outside: off-white render on the two visible walls, Cedral weatherboard on the rest, and aluminium doors in Sensations Desert Grey rather than the usual anthracite.
Five sides and no 90-degree corners
Executive Garden Rooms were commissioned to create a high-spec, self-contained home in the garden for one person. The site chosen for the project was located at the far end of the garden, away from the main house.
The boundary fences around the site are not set at 90-degree angles. A traditional square or rectangular building would have left ‘dead’ space behind the annexe, which is less than ideal. To overcome this, Executive Garden Rooms designed a building that follows the lines of the boundary, maximising the use of space.
The resulting building has five sides, and none of the wall intersections are at 90 degrees! Designing and framing such a structure requires skill, but the additional space gained inside is well worth it.
The final design provides 30 square metres of modern living space. As seen in the images, the angled walls have not compromised the living areas at all. Externally, the unique shape adds character to the annexe.
Planning permission obtained as part of the project
As this annexe was designed as a permanent dwelling, full householder planning approval was required, and all work needed to be signed off by Building Control.
Many potential buyers express concerns about the planning process. When you work with a company like Executive Garden Rooms, who offer a turnkey service, they will manage the planning application on your behalf. They will also liaise with the local Building Control Department to ensure that all work is completed to the necessary standards and signed off accordingly.
One-person home in the garden
The 30sqm annexe created by Executive Garden Rooms has made a comfortable home for one person. The main room is open plan and has been cleverly divided into zones for cooking, dining, living, and sleeping.
A half-height wall has been strategically placed to define the bedroom area. The single bed is tucked behind the wall, with the sofa positioned against it in the living space. This arrangement ensures that the bed is not immediately visible upon entering the annexe.
The kitchen is located in a recessed area alongside the shower room and airing cupboard, making good use of the space. The kitchen units have been designed to include a seating and dining area at the end of the run.
Pressurised water system
The annexe is equipped with a pressurised water system. Executive Garden Rooms recommend a 125-litre system for their self-contained annexes. Installing a pressurised system ensures that the water pressure in the shower remains strong, even if a tap is turned on in the kitchen.
The modern shower room includes a large shower tray with a glass panel and feature tiling. The space is completed with a toilet and a generously sized basin fitted into a useful vanity unit. A high-level window brings natural light into the room.
The pressurised water system is discreetly housed in an airing cupboard, which will provide valuable storage for bedding and laundry. Although the photos show it before shelving was installed, the cupboard is also plumbed to accommodate a washing machine if required.
Groundworks managed as part of the project
Some garden annexe buyers are caught off guard when they discover that the necessary groundworks to connect the plumbing for the shower room and kitchen to the mains supply are not included in their project. However, this is not the case with Executive Garden Rooms. As part of their comprehensive service, they manage the groundworks and connections for water, waste, and electrics, ensuring they are all signed off by Building Control.
Contemporary rendered exterior
The exterior of the annexe has a contemporary feel, with ‘off-white’ rendered walls and grey doors and windows. The front and left-hand walls are rendered and painted, while the less visible walls are clad in Cedral weatherboard. Cedral is a low-maintenance, cement fibre board, ideal for areas that are difficult to access.
The aluminium doors and windows are finished in a lovely grey shade called Sensations Desert Grey. It’s refreshing to see something different from the more common Anthracite Grey! The colour pairs wonderfully with the off-white walls.
Learn more about Executive Garden Rooms
To find out more about creating a self-contained living annexe, contact the Executive Garden Rooms team on 01202 874 766 or email them at info@executivegardenrooms.co.uk. Visit their website to learn more about their buildings.
