Garden Office with Storage on a Sloping Site
First Published: 7 August 2021
Refreshed: 22 October 2024
Reading Time: 2 minutes 39 seconds
This garden office with a secret storage shed by Kent-based Ark Design Build demonstrates how bespoke designers can creatively overcome the challenges of a sloping site.
The area chosen for the office had a significant slope. Many designers would have installed a foundation to level the base and then hidden the deep foundation with a cladding skirt. However, the Ark Design Build team saw a design opportunity in the sloping ground.
Alongside their fully insulated office space, Ark's clients wanted to include a storage room. The Ark team realised that placing the storage room at the bottom of the slope would allow for a taller storage space – it ended up being 3m high.
Two Frameworks
The Ark Design Build team created two separate frameworks for this project. The main framework formed the office and veranda, while a smaller framework was used for the storage shed, built on lower foundations to take advantage of the slope and create extra height inside the shed.
Storage Shed with a Secret Door
The exterior of the building is beautifully detailed. The combination of black-painted tongue and groove cladding with Thermowood shadow gap battens adds a stylish touch.
This design also cleverly conceals the door to the storage shed. Only a horizontal line at the top of the door hints at its presence. The door features a hidden flush lock system, further enhancing the streamlined appearance.
Two Sets of Bi-fold Doors
As shown in the photos, the office offers a seamless indoor-outdoor experience, thanks to two sets of aluminium bi-fold doors.
The doors open onto a wrap-around decked veranda. Black composite decking was chosen over wood, a practical choice as it doesn’t become slippery or discoloured, unlike timber decking.
High-Spec Interior
Ark Design Build plaster and decorate the interiors of their buildings. In this project, the plastered walls are complemented by a wooden floor, creating a light and modern room. The clients' choice of a cork feature wall adds a striking finishing touch.
Move In and Start Work
Once Ark Design Build finishes, the office is ready for the owners to move their furniture and start work.
As part of their turnkey service, Ark Design Build handles the final connection of the office’s electrics to the mains – a task other companies often leave to the client. Their electrical specification includes power sockets, LED recessed downlights, and a hardwired Cat6 data cable for reliable internet connection as standard.
Learn More
Ark Design Build is based in Kent and focuses on installations in Kent, East Sussex and parts of Essex.
To learn more about this project, contact the Ark Design Build team on 07760 882 950 or email them at contact@arkdesignbuild.co.uk. You can also explore their website: www.arkdesignbuild.co.uk.
