Wandsworth Common | SW18

Spacious living room with large glass windows overlooking a garden, a wood-burning stove, and  a bar and brick accents.

Multi-Use Garden Room and Collector’s Garage with Sustainable Features

This project involved designing a versatile garden building that could function as a summer retreat, party zone, gym, bar, and quiet reading space—all with full visual and physical connection to the garden via large sliding doors. In parallel, the structure needed to house a collector’s car in a secure, dust-free garage that could also be visually appreciated from the garden room.

The brief also included a potting shed, wash room, and a rainwater harvesting system to support the client’s passion for gardening. The internal layout was designed to allow these highly functional spaces to coexist elegantly within a single architectural volume.

The site presented a significant technical challenge due to the proximity of mature beech trees. To protect the root systems, we used augered pile foundations—a low-impact solution that allowed us to safely build near the trees without damaging their stability or health.

A complex rainwater harvesting system was integrated into the roof design, channeling rainwater into a series of storage tanks. This harvested water now supplies an automated irrigation system, supporting sustainable garden maintenance.

The architectural language of the new structure echoes the detailing of the main house, with carefully matched materials and finishes to create a unified visual relationship between old and new. Despite its multifunctionality, the new garden building blends seamlessly into the landscape and respects the character of the site.