Garden office, gym, and covered seating area
An 8.5m × 4.3m Garden Fortress building in Banstead, Surrey, with a home office, a gym and a covered seating area under one roof.
This 8.5m x 4.3m garden room in Banstead, Surrey, showcases the versatility of these multi-functional buildings, offering a home office, gym, and a covered seating area under one roof. Designed and built by Garden Fortress, the project showcases how multiple spaces can be seamlessly integrated into one cohesive building.
Based in Epsom Downs, Garden Fortress services Surrey, London, and surrounding counties, including Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, and Berkshire.
At a glance
- Size: 8.5m × 4.3m, an example of the Garden Fortress Classic Room range, which includes a covered seating area as standard.
- The site: A significant slope, levelled on ground screw foundations rather than dug out, with a composite deck and built-in steps linking the different ground levels.
- Outside: Western Red Cedar with black Southern Grandis on the feature walls and canopy, black metal cladding at the rear, and the underside of the canopy clad to match the walls.
- Inside: Plastered and decorated, with black skirting and architraves, rustic oak engineered flooring through the office and gym, and an oak door into the office.
- Company: Garden Fortress, based in Epsom Downs, who built it from SIPs with double-glazed doors and windows, underfloor heating in the office and a panel radiator in the gym.
An example of the Garden Fortress Classic Room
This project is part of the Garden Fortress Classic Room range, that includes a covered outdoor seating area as standard. The trend of adding such sheltered spaces has gained popularity, given the unpredictable British weather, enhancing the indoor-outdoor lifestyle these rooms promote.
As shown in the accompanying images, the Garden Fortress team has meticulously detailed both the outdoor and interior elements of the insulated room. The underside of the roof canopy is clad to match the timber walls, with recessed lighting adding evening functionality. These spaces provide the perfect setting for hosting gatherings.
Overcoming a sloping site
The site chosen had a significant gradient, which posed challenges. To avoid extensive excavation costs, the homeowner collaborated with Garden Fortress to design a solution that accommodated the natural slope.
Using ground screw foundations, the team created a level base with minimal disruption. A large composite deck with integrated steps connects the varying ground levels, offering a welcoming entrance to the structure.
Combining exterior finishes
Garden Fortress are skilled at mixing exterior finishes to accentuate architectural features. This garden room uses a combination of Western Red Cedar cladding and black Southern Grandis cladding for striking feature walls and the canopy’s front elevation.
Southern Grandis, sourced from Eucalyptus Grandis trees native to Australia but cultivated worldwide, is prized for its strength and durability, ideal for cladding.
The rear of the building features black metal cladding, ensuring all finishes are durable and low-maintenance. Black detailing is also seen on the roof fascia, supporting posts, and composite decking. High-spec aluminium doors and window frames also share this sleek black finish.
The use of a two-colour palette creates a bold, contemporary look, making the garden room a standout feature in the landscape.
Modern interiors
The interior is completed to a high standard, with a plastered and decorated finish. Garden Fortress often uses black skirting and architraves for a modern touch, maintaining a simple colour scheme accented by matte black sockets and switches.
Engineered wood flooring in a rustic Oak finish spans the office and gym areas, complemented by an Oak door leading into the office space.
Comprehensive electrical package
This garden room includes a well-appointed electrical system, featuring LED downlights in each space. Exterior-grade LED lights are recessed under the roof canopy, all remotely controllable for ease of use.
Decking lights are also integrated and remote-operated, allowing the homeowner to manage the garden room lighting from the main house.
An Ethernet point ensures a stable Wi-Fi connection, hard-wired to the router in the main home.
Garden Fortress buildings use Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) alongside double-glazed doors and windows for excellent insulation. The clients opted for underfloor heating in the office and a Wi-Fi-compatible electric panel radiator in the gym for year-round comfort.
Learn more about Garden Fortress
To explore options for a similar multi-use garden room, contact Garden Fortress on 07931 364 389 or email them at info@gardenfortress.com. Visit www.gardenfortress.com to see more of their projects.
Garden Fortress, based in Epsom Downs, services Surrey, London, and nearby counties including Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, and Berkshire.
