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We noticed a trend going on these days: offices in the backyard! The convenience of just walking rather than driving to work is too good to pass up. Check out these backyard offices that allow people to get away from the house without really getting away and save the hassles of dealing with traffic, commuting costs, or space rentals.
WorkPod by Ecospace is a gorgeous, contemporary backyard office would definitely appeal to design addicts. Other than its great looks, the space is built-in the office technology you need to get your work done.
There’s something about the round shape of the Archipod (which we’ve written about before) that makes me want to wrap my arms around it when I see it. It looks small, but it’s actually bigger inside than you think and it fits in with the backyard landscape very nicely.
dmvA’s Blob VB3 is an egg-shaped unit that can be used for an office or even a living space. It definitely reminds me of a giant marshmallow jelly bean.
The OfficePOD creates an environment that supports productivity and provides the user with an efficient use of space. It’s made using as many recycled and recyclable materials as possible and there’s a low level energy consumption along with a high level of insulation.
This small recording studio designed by Piet Hein Eek for entertainer Hans Liberg is a modern spin on a log cabin. The exterior is consists of many logs that cover a plastic and steel frame.
The customizable Garden Studio by UK company in.it.studios is insulated and can have heating, lighting, power outlets and even a bathroom or kitchen!
Do you know of any other backyard office solutions like these?
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66 Comments
chocolateandsteel on 04.07.2010 at 14:06 PM
these are all so crazy! I love it. It would feel like you are going to play every day.
tudza on 04.07.2010 at 19:40 PM
I’ve seen the prices for some of these. Hideous.
aggieben on 05.08.2012 at 17:44 PM
I have a backyard office similar to these, though not nearly so chic. I have to agree, though, that the expense of these prefab offices are exorbitant. It’s pretty hard to find one for less than $200 per sq ft (officepod is $19k, archipod is $34k, and kithaus starts at “under $20k”). I built mine myself, and it’s 10×16 with several windows, a finished interior with bamboo floors, wiring and a/c; it cost about $9000 in 2006-2007. That’s $56/sq ft. I could currently get a contractor to do it for about the same or less.
So: very cool to look at in pictures and fantasize about, but traditional custom construction is still way more economical. You’re better off spending $200 on a good plan and hiring a builder.
Mosmith on 10.03.2013 at 16:43 PM
I have to admit that my favourite is the one clad in logs… so easy to do yourself. We built a bunkie (8×12) with a loft for about $5000. not including siding… we sourced items at closeout sales and reuse it centres. (near Toronto)
Nina on 04.08.2010 at 02:30 AM
There must be a huge market for these. I would love one, might have to build my own though! I work on my verandah quite often!
Hoby K on 04.08.2010 at 23:33 PM
Beautiful & nice works!
Allandaros on 04.09.2010 at 02:08 AM
The Archipod just makes me want to sit in it and cackle, “Now witness the firepower of this fully armed and operational battle station!”
enrolled agent exam preparation on 04.09.2010 at 04:52 AM
The log cabin seems okay. But the other ones? They’re really very small and looks claustrophobic.
uniunea crestina on 04.09.2010 at 05:46 AM
very interesting things
Exercise for Seniors on 04.09.2010 at 11:06 AM
I want one in a tree that feels like the starship enterprise inside. It don’t want it to look like it from outside, just feel like it inside. A pod where nobody can disturb me or interrupt what I am doing.
Bill on 04.09.2010 at 12:21 PM
I’ve had an office in my backyard for several years now. It’s an 8 x 10 \shed\ built with 2x6s and super insulated, including 4\ foam under the concrete slab. I heat it with a small oil heater that looks like an old fashioned radiator and have written two novels here. I also have a small air conditioner.
ricardo C. on 04.09.2010 at 13:41 PM
I like it very musch expeciially the log cabin and the small egg color studio-like thing. Beautiful
Wafik Sayegh on 04.10.2010 at 11:39 AM
I believe Michael Pollan’s “A Place of My Own: The Architecture of Daydreams” deserves a mention here.
Rick Eames on 04.10.2010 at 21:06 PM
These seem to be mainly a UK thing — does anyone in the US make these things? I am so in the market for one!
Valerie Navarro on 04.25.2011 at 20:28 PM
Hello Rick,
We have a pre-fab modern backyard structure for sale right now it is very handsome and is a roomy 204Sqft. It is ready to move to your site and very sustainably built. Please respond to the email above for more details.
Thanks,
Valerie Navarro
JimB on 04.13.2010 at 13:46 PM
Of everything above, my practical favorite is @Bill (4/[email protected]:21). Least likely to provoke (what would inevitably become) intrusive curiosity or worse, and no doubt the least expense by far. I would imagine that badged entry, recording departure and return, would increase openness of businesses to the idea of telecommuting. It wouldn’t be a foolproof solution for either party, but would help.
Bill on 04.13.2010 at 17:14 PM
@JimB: I don’t have badged entry, and no one is recording my recording departure or return. My office/shed fully finished on the inside, including a Tibetan rug that cost just about as much as the structure itself. My two dogs accompany me and sleep at my feet. It’s not big, but it’s quiet and private, and perfect for what I want. I rented a very cheap office for a couple years and figure that this paid for itself after 26 months. I still have to leave the house to go to work, and psychologically that makes a difference for me.
Bill Moser on 10.03.2012 at 09:36 AM
We’ve moved and left the office behind. I kind of miss it, but I have a new office with great windows, sunlight and a lot more space inside the new house.
Anthony on 04.13.2010 at 21:49 PM
I had my shed customized into a backyard Blog Cabin.Probably spent less than $6500 for everything you see in my Home Tweet Home. See photos at this website.
Cristina on 04.20.2010 at 06:26 AM
Wow these are brilliant ideas, thanks for posting! I’d love to have the Archipod, or the WorkPod – an incentive to get to work!
Clive on 04.26.2010 at 09:07 AM
Surprisingly none are in a tree.
Abbott on 07.11.2010 at 16:35 PM
This is my backyard office.
Includes small bathroom, shower, kitchen unit with refridgerator. Electricty, running water, heat, A/C, and DSL Internet.
http://www.derham.com/images/SpringSnowCaboose.jpg
eric on 08.18.2010 at 14:25 PM
Here’s an entire blog devoting to the backyard office….
http://www.shedworking.co.uk/
Bill on 08.18.2010 at 18:37 PM
I’m enjoying the intermittent posts. I’m in a suburb of Chicago, so the US is represented.
Anthony A. Ampania on 08.18.2010 at 22:49 PM
Here is my Temporary Escape Temple: http://aaabackyardoffice.blogspot.com/2009/05/shed-office.html
Rossella on 08.25.2010 at 09:46 AM
I really like these sort of buildings! I know a prefab house called Planit (from company Pircher, Italy,www.pircher.eu/planit/) which has won the Red Dot Design Award this year. It is also eco-friendly and can be used for housing shops, offices, show rooms, temporary structures.
Kat on 09.16.2010 at 08:58 AM
These are all England based companies, so I started doing them in scotland. http://www.dabden.com
Tim Davison on 11.24.2010 at 06:11 AM
They look great especially the Work Pod.
Mind you I think it’s more likely that the Garden Studio is “insulated” rather than “insulted”. ;-)
Jaime on 11.24.2010 at 13:05 PM
Ha – thanks for catching that ;)
Tom on 11.30.2010 at 17:03 PM
More people working from home, uncertain house prices… Brilliant idea for getting a bit more space to live/work. All look very contemporary – would like to see something in keeping with UK housing stock?
T. E. Samad on 12.09.2010 at 14:20 PM
Great designs, but i wasn’t even aware of this “build an office in your backyard” trend.
Cheap Kitchen Cabinets on 01.05.2011 at 15:40 PM
Now what kind of job do I have to have to be able to work in one of these beauties? Not a regular one I suppose.
gps on 01.22.2011 at 17:19 PM
This is a really cool idea. Anyone who has tried to set up an office inside a busy house will know that there are far to many distractions around which does put you off your work.. by moving just down into the garden I know it would focus me an awful lot more. They look fantastic too.
crowley on 01.24.2011 at 14:06 PM
These are gorgeous. We went the Shed Shop route with my husband’s backyard studio. A free-standing structure–no matter how small–can really help you transition into a different creative mind space.
julie on 05.14.2011 at 02:21 AM
Everyone of these are so different and anyone can use them differently. Some look so modern, while some look cozy. I’ve recently been house hunting and saw some interesting self-built spaces in backyards that really caught my attention and now looking at these I feel an urge to make my own.
Sinan Saday on 05.31.2011 at 11:41 AM
I personally know a few artists [one Sound Engineer, and a Sculptor] who have their studio’s on their own property. The Sound studio is, intelligently, before the house, but he still owns all the relevant land.
The sculptor owns a huge house in the Perth, Western Australia hills, which is surrounded by plants and animals, with a creek bordering the land. His studio is nestled at top of the drive, with tree’s growing all over it. The locality inspires so much creativity, it’s obvious why he chose that house
Wayne on 06.10.2011 at 19:07 PM
I’m in Melbourne, Australia and have a great home office that I’m looking to sell (due to house renovations). Has been featured in The Age several times and the beautiful design earned it an Australian Design Award. You can check it out via ebay here http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Portable-Home-Office-Studio-Spare-Room-Site-Office-/190542798503?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item2c5d3c5ea7#ht_500wt_1156
Dan on 07.03.2011 at 14:57 PM
The Garden Studio and log recording studio look great.
There is a company in Seattle that makes pre-fab backyard buildings.
http://www.modern-shed.com/home.aspx
Alexis Lane on 07.03.2011 at 20:47 PM
A great alternative to the above options is a pre-fab unit by Kanga Room Systems. They are a bit homier, and much more affordable.
They have four models, the studio, cabin, shed and play, and come in several different sizes depending on how much space you need.
Check them out at http://www.kangaroomsystems.com/
Rohan Jayasekera on 07.06.2011 at 02:58 AM
It would be great if the second one pictured, the nearly spherical one, could have its door voice-activated. “Open the pod bay doors, Hal.”
Mike Hurley on 07.23.2011 at 00:30 AM
Nicely written! I would say that a lot of peoples are not aware that log cabins is one of the best way to meet our requirements for resident and commercial buildings. Wooden houses are really effective and worth living. I remember my stay with grandparents in the log cabins and love them so much. Thanks for writing such a good post.
scotty on 08.10.2011 at 19:35 PM
I just love these. What a great idea! Thanks!
Stacey Simpson on 09.28.2011 at 06:47 AM
Wow, some of these are really nice. Now I just need a garden with enough space to fit one!
GWOPster on 01.08.2012 at 08:57 AM
This is cool!
Matt Guru on 05.14.2012 at 19:41 PM
Wow! Boy do I feel like a sucker. Here I’m spending a couple grand a month to lease an office when I could be working out of a work of art. The only issue I see with most of these is, what to you do when you need to meet clients? Or a team of clients? Go to their office or meet at a Starbucks I suppose.
Great stuff and fun to think about no doubt!
-Matt
Miles on 08.03.2012 at 07:06 AM
I really appreciate the practical side of these backyard offices; cheaper than renting, no commute, leaves more room in your own home…
But most of all, the design and style leaves me almost speechless. I mean, just look at the creativity of the pods – just stunning! But most of all I can’t get enough of the log cabin recording studio. Inspirational!
Steve Reilly on 09.03.2012 at 20:53 PM
http://slrarchitecture.com/capabilities/news/3
Steve Reilly on 09.03.2012 at 21:09 PM
Text didn’t work on original post. This is my green architecture studio
I built it using green materials including recycled tire roofing
, soy insulation, an innovative electric panel heating system, recycled pumpkin
Pine floor. Cost was about 15K but I designed and built myself
Using high quality materials.
Meble na wymiar Kraków on 09.19.2012 at 03:18 AM
Well, this will solve my problem, i have office inside house and i cant focus on job in 100%, there are always little “things” that disturbing me. The last one design inside the wood is definitely for me.
I saw somewhere a BUS that was cut into 2 pieces, the front one(cockpit) was office, and the second one living room.
Laura Epson on 10.02.2012 at 09:44 AM
Wonderful. Beautiful yet very practicla – just what I need to keep my work and home life separate.
Lew on 01.08.2013 at 18:53 PM
Lots of good ideas, tons of photos, for small homes/offices in TINY HOMES: SIMPLE SHELTER, by Lloyd Kahn (ISBN: 978-0-936070-52-0)
Matt Melton on 03.01.2013 at 16:41 PM
There are so many great ideas for designs and how to use this type of space. If you are in the Portland Metro area, we’d love to build one for you!
FELIX on 03.15.2013 at 09:20 AM
I think it’s been really fun what! Some people as of himself Abgeben.Aber I myself on the website what about it here Found https://www.1-2-love.com just reading There is almost the same written
kim @ DESIGN + LIFE + KIDS on 03.27.2013 at 16:25 PM
I can’t get over the log cabin office. It’s fantastic!
Matthew Corell on 04.04.2013 at 14:19 PM
These are all great ideas!
One of my current projects I’m working on, The Redmond Cabinette (http://www.dbmc.us/archives/4069), is converting an unused storage shed into a home office.
Jonathan Rojas on 04.11.2013 at 11:39 AM
Currently working in one of these from Ecospace at the end of my bosses garden, it’s beautiful! Underfloor heating and massive sliding door really connects the exterior and the interior. Ecospace take care of everything for you – planning consent etc. Only thing I would say is up the spec on the lighting.
Ludmilla on 04.14.2013 at 17:10 PM
This is my backyard office. The shot was taken a few years ago, not I have an iPad, makes things much more easier out there. Can’t wait to move outside, sun come back please!
http://thezenofsocks.blogspot.com/search/label/office
gebril on 06.26.2013 at 19:26 PM
Building on your own is much cheaper and better. I think I can build something like the workpod office for less than $15k (mind you, this would be in Vancouver Canada). Although, these look really cool. I just went to pietheineek.nl and boy are they expensive.
Deidre Interiors on 06.30.2013 at 12:05 PM
I would love to have an office outside of my home, but not too far away.These are inspiring!
Ben Brown on 08.22.2013 at 03:47 AM
As somebody who has experienced the work at home model from a back yard base. It is great that you have space with no overheads. But I do believe that working this way tends to make you a bit reclusive and you see less and less of people the more your workload builds. Then if you have 4-5 employees that you work with from your back yard office then it might be ok. But on your own. It is very lonely.
Stijn on 08.26.2013 at 03:57 AM
Nothing really new here. People, especially men, have been building private sheds in their backyard for ages. Anything to get away from daily life.
Steven on 09.19.2013 at 09:23 AM
love the garden office design.
something i hope to have, rather than late nights in the kitchen table working
flushfitting on 04.23.2015 at 05:43 AM
Big fan and with modern wifi optimizers have a b2b connection would relatively cheap. Not sure you would be convincing a potential a potential client they are signing up to a fortune 500 company whern there being reminded not to knock over the garden knome!!!
Danielle on 09.07.2016 at 22:01 PM
I’ve seen some people turn their shed or garage into an office space, but I love the idea of a pod office. Something you could take with you when you move!
Kevin Moore on 01.05.2017 at 07:18 AM
Looking around for ideas to add to the range of garden rooms we design and build love the look of the curved pod and the space age looking metallic versions.
Bristol Builders Network on 03.18.2018 at 06:19 AM
All these designs are crazy but so cool. I would love a capsule in my back yard.
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