Khōra Architectural Dome

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is rapidly approaching (May 20-24) so today we start to flag up some of the shedworkingesque buildings to look out for if you visit.


Above (at Stand RHW2) is the rather impressive Khōra Architectural Dome, a steel and glass structure inspired by the Palm House at Kew Gardens from British designer Louis Calmels. It measures 5m in diameter and is 7m high. It has hardwood doors and windows and features curved glass panels in the domed roof.

Here's how Calmels describes it: "The name Khōra comes from ancient Greek. It is a philosophical term which refers to a space or interval between being and non-being. The glass dome is sympathetic to this concept. Plato described 'Khōra' as the image reflected in a mirror, held by the mirror but not retained. The glass dome defines its own space but allows the eye to cross its boundaries and observe the outside as if it were within. I feel my Dome reflects this ethereal imagery as it encapsulates a light, airy space which is beautiful and calming both in the day and at night.” So now you know.
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Homestead Timber Buildings - Manufacturers of Quality Timber Buildings

Egg-shaped beach huts

"Egg and ball-shaped beach huts have been put forward as possible designs for "storm-proof" huts in Dorset.Students at Arts University Bournemouth designed the huts for Studland Beach as part of a National Trust project."

More details at the BBC ----------------------------------------------------

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Hexi-House

Due to come onto the market in summer next year, Hexi-House is a hexagonal pod building system which will be of interest to shedworkers, aimed squarely at the garden buildings market and specifically at those keen to invest in garden offices.

The pods come in kit form and are  around 5.3sqm, built from high performance composite boarding. But the other interesting element is that father and son team from Belfast Jim and Chris Rooney will run it as a social entrprise. Here's what they say: 

"The primary activity is a pod for private home use. The second activity, is to reinvest the profits attained from the primary activity to subsidize the cost of providing Hexi-House as a medium-term relief shelter for displaced victims from natural or social disasters."

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Shed of the Year - now a television series

Shed of the Year is coming to a small screen near you. Television property expert and small space enthusiast George Clarke, his master craftsman colleague William Hardie, architect Laura Clark and industrial designer Max McMurdo will be following the ‘Shed of the Year’ competition this year, investigating and assessing some of the 2000 entries from across the UK.
 
Over three shows George and his team will travel to standout entries shortlisted in various categories. 
The series will culminate in the three judges alongside Channel 4 viewers making the extremely tough decision on who is the overall winner of Shed of the Year 2014. 

Monday posts are sponsored by garden2office, the Swedish garden office specialists. Click here for more details.

Britain's obsession with luxury playhouses

An interesting article by Tom Bawden in the Independent [disclosure - I work for the super soaraway Indy] looks at the increasingly complex playhouses on the market for children. Here's a snippet:

Not so long ago, the average child was perfectly happy with a playhouse made from cheap scrap wood, cardboard or even a bed sheet draped over a line between two poles. Wonky wendy houses wobbled across the land. Nowadays that won’t do at all, with youngsters around the country living it up in des-res two-storey garden mansions with a balcony, double-glazing, window box, electronic doorbell and, in some cases, even a pretend oven.

Well worth a read. ----------------------------------------------------------

Friday posts are sponsored by Warwick Buildings, manufacturers of outstanding quality timber buildings. Click here for more information.

British Pathé and George Bernard Shaw's shed

Film archive British Pathé has put its entire collection onto YouTube. Naturally, among the 85,000 rare 20th Century videos now available to the public are plenty including sheds and huts, such as this one featureing George Bernard Shaw and his writing shed, which he enters at around the 1.38 mark. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Homestead Timber Buildings - Manufacturers of Quality Timber Buildings

Sheds more popular for working in than storage says poll

Research from Dunster House suggests that keeping sheds as storage areas is no longer the most popular way of using them  - more than half of the people surveyed said they use their shed as a dedicated hobby space or relaxing hideaway.

Second most popular was using the shed for storage which 43% of respondents did, with a remaining 4% favouring sheds for their aesthetics i.e. the perfect addition to an attractive back garden.

“We all know that sheds have a practical use," said Alex Murphy, Managing Director at Dunster House, "but we hadn’t realised so many people were using them as a bolt hole from the stresses and strain of their everyday lives, either to grab a bit of peace and quiet, or to relax and enjoy their favourite hobbies.

“With people still financially stretched and looking for less costly ways of spending their free time, staying at home and ‘pottering’ about in your own shed seems to be a growing trend, as well as a healthy way of unwinding and keeping active at the same time. I’m never happier than when I’m in my own ‘Man-cave’ in the back garden.” ----------------------------------------------------

Wednesday posts are sponsored by The Stable Company®, the UK's premier supplier of garden offices and garden rooms. Click here

Launch your business in an escape shed

Here's an interesting idea from the Escape the City folk - one lucky person will get three months' free use of a shedworking atmosphere near Clapham Common to set up their new business. It's a liveable shedworking atmosphere so there's also a tiny house log cabin element in it too. There's no rent and there's a host of other helpful stuff like mentoring services thrown in too. More details about how to apply at the link above. Thanks to the eagle-eyed Emma Jones for spotting this. Monday posts are sponsored by garden2office, the Swedish garden office specialists. Click here for more details.

Shedworking support worker job

Age UK Cheshire is looking for a part time 'Men in Sheds Support Worker', somebody who is sensitive, friendly and patient with good listening and communication skills, plus a willingness to learn woodwork techniques (or, I'm assuming, have them already). Here's the detail:

"Men in Sheds is a project started by Age UK Cheshire in the autumn of 2008 for older men who feel isolated or are experiencing major life changes. The project is very simple and has one goal, to reach men over 55. We aim to encourage a shed-like environment with a focus on socialising, sharing skills and learning new ones and of course, all of our activities are accompanied with lots of tea and biscuits! We are looking for volunteers to support men who may have extra support needs in various woodwork projects."

Click here for full information and how to apply ----------------------------------------------------------

Friday posts are sponsored by Warwick Buildings, manufacturers of outstanding quality timber buildings. Click here for more information.