A New... Old Typology emerging

As shelter in place orders have forced millions of Americans to hunker down in response to the pandemic, our homes have become so much more than ever before. They now serve as classrooms, corporate offices, workshops, art studios, or places to escape. Those of us that are fortunate to have outdoor space have quickly realized the potential for expansion of habitable spaces outside, thus turning to an old typology; the garden shed.

Over the past several years, places like California have amended their zoning regulations to allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s) as permanent habitable structures on single-family lots. Such structures have been around since the beginning of the 20th century, but became obsolete as people tuned to suburban living post WW II. Although these new changes are in response to the growing need for places to live (especially in markets like LA), in the days of Covid-19 it has become the ideal way to address the necessity for more livable space. By adding a livable shed in your backyard, you can now have that coveted extra space that affords privacy and can become the classroom, the corporate office, the workshop, the art studio, or the place to escape. 

Now you may be thinking “what about the cost of building such a shed?”. Luckily, there are several companies that provide affordable prefabricated solutions as outlined in this interesting New York Times article. These products are not only well designed, but also complete engineered solutions that can be ordered, fabricated, shipped and installed in a few weeks. 

You may also consider our own line: the (S)HE SHED. It is conceived as a simple, stick-frame, free-standing, beautifully designed room for your backyard. This is the perfect opportunity for all you DIY’ers out there to build something to last.