Office for a long, thin garden
A 3m × 3.5m garden office at the end of a long, narrow London garden, with bi-folds across the front and high windows in the side walls above the fences.
Many suburban gardens are long and narrow, but this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the benefits of a garden office. Swift Unlimited designed and built this 3-metre-wide home office, which fits perfectly at the end of a London garden. The design not only makes the most of every inch of space but also creates the illusion of a wider garden.
The office measures 3.5 metres deep, providing a total footprint of 10.5 square metres. As the building is under 15 square metres and not intended for sleeping accommodation, it could be constructed without requiring Building Regulations approval. If the office had exceeded 15 square metres or been designed for overnight use, it would have needed to either be positioned at least 1 metre from the boundary fences or constructed using non-combustible materials.
At a glance
- Size: 3m wide by 3.5m deep, a 10.5sqm footprint, under the 15sqm above which Building Regulations would have applied.
- The site: The end of a long, narrow garden in London, with the office taking the garden’s full width.
- Glazing: Bi-fold doors across the front fold to one side, and high rectangular windows in the side walls sit above fence height for light and ventilation without being overlooked.
- Finish: Cedar cladding with dark grey powder-coated aluminium doors and windows; inside, wooden flooring and plastered, decorated walls.
- Company: Swift Unlimited, who began with a free site survey, drew up several design proposals, and connected the electrics to the house mains as part of their turnkey service.
Tailored designs for individual needs
Swift Unlimited’s clients began planning their home office over a year ago, aiming to extend the functionality of their garden. After an initial consultation, a member of the Swift team conducted a free site survey. This visit allowed them to assess the space and discuss design options directly with the clients.
Following the survey, the team developed several design proposals, including detailed drawings and 3D renders. These plans outlined key elements such as door and window placements, power socket positions, and other important details. Each design came with a comprehensive specification, project costings, and an estimated build schedule.
Bright, airy, and modern
The clients chose a design featuring bi-fold doors across the front elevation. These doors fold neatly to one side, seamlessly connecting the office to the garden and flooding the room with natural light. High rectangular windows were installed in the side walls to let in additional light without compromising privacy, as they sit above fence height. These windows are also functional for ventilation.
The project included powder-coated aluminium bi-fold doors and windows in a modern dark grey finish, which complements the cedar cladding for a contemporary look.
High-quality interiors
Inside, Swift Unlimited finishes its garden rooms to a high standard, with features such as wooden flooring, plastered and decorated walls, and a fully fitted electrical setup. Their bespoke service ensures the electrical specification is tailored to individual needs, whether for basic power and lighting or advanced requirements like data cabling. As part of their turnkey service, Swift’s electricians handle the connection of the garden room’s electrics to the house mains supply, eliminating the need for clients to organise this separately.
Client feedback
The client shared their feedback on the project:
Excellent communications throughout the process. Even before we started, I thought the website was great. I liked the detail of the initial project planner and the Design & Build section – these set you apart from other garden room suppliers. The consultations with Martin were excellent; he’s obviously very knowledgeable and experienced. Really impressed – the team were tidy, courteous, and completed the job with minimal input needed from us.”
Learn more about Swift Unlimited
This bespoke garden office showcases how even a long, narrow garden can accommodate a stylish, functional space.
Discover how Swift Unlimited can bring your garden room vision to life. Contact the Swift Unlimited team on 01625 875 588 or email support@swiftunlimited.co.uk. Visit www.swiftorg.co.uk to explore more examples of their stunning projects.
