THREE FORM STUDIO
ONE OF A KIND
Sector
Residential
Location
London, N21
Year
2024
Cost Range
£45,000 +
Core Materials
Black timber cladding, shuttering pine plywood, procelain flooring, PC aluminium window and door frames
Photographer
Richard Andrews
Consultants
Blue Engineering
Designed as a multi-functional garden outbuilding, Three Form Studio separates its uses into three distinct volumes:
a gym and storage space,
a flexible workshop, and
a greenhouse-style area
Located within a beautifully landscaped garden in East London, Three Form Studio is a low-profile, multi-functional outbuilding designed for focused work, wellbeing, and seasonal planting.
The brief called for a quiet retreat that could accommodate three distinct uses while maintaining a strong visual connection to the garden and maximising natural light throughout.
Composed of three interconnected forms rather than a single volume, the studio is carefully arranged to define distinct interior and exterior moments, each tailored to its specific use.
Circulation Spine
A central circulation axis connects all three volumes, defined externally by a subtle ‘T’ configuration in plan.
This corridor introduces additional light and ventilation via three carefully positioned openable rooflights, while reinforcing the spatial separation between functions.
The Gym & Storage Area
Opposite the greenhouse-style area lies the largest volume of the studio, housing a home gym and integrated storage.
Framed views extend toward the rear planted courtyard and, in the opposite direction, toward the greenhouse area and main garden beyond.
The interior is clad in warm shuttering pine plywood, giving the room a natural and refined character.
Black-framed skylights provide a clean, minimal source of daylight, while a unique combination of vertical window and overhead skylight creates a distinctive wrap-around lighting effect that enhances both brightness and spatial depth.
The Greenhouse Area
This greenhouse-style space features large, black-framed aluminium windows and a glazed door that connect to a lush, plant-filled porch.
The area is designed for plant storage and care, with anthracite porcelain floor tiles continuing seamlessly from the interior to the exterior. Its positioning takes advantage of direct sunlight and proximity to the courtyard garden, making it perfectly suited for nurturing and maintaining plants.
The warm-toned shuttering pine plywood wall cladding adds natural texture and warmth to the interior, contrasting with the dark window frames and robust flooring.
Above, two frameless rooflights introduce additional daylight, enhancing the bright, open feel of the space.
The result is a light-filled, immersive environment that blurs the boundary between the garden and the studio interior.
The Workshop Area
Positioned at the rear of the garden studio, the smaller side volume accommodates a compact workshop designed for both practical tasks and creative work.
A work bench provides space for gardening tools and everyday maintenance, while a dedicated desk area serves as a workspace for model-making and detailed craftwork.
The black-framed aluminium window and door open onto a secluded patio which provides a quiet outdoor retreat, featuring simple seating beneath mature planting.
This smaller courtyard leads to a discreet secondary entrance to the garden, enhancing circulation and the layered spatial experience of the overall design.
Inside, the dark shelving, recessed black spotlights, and graphite-toned desk and chair contrast against the warm shuttering pine plywood walls, reinforcing the studio’s refined and tactile material palette.
The continuous anthracite porcelain floor tiles, extending from the interior to the patios, further ground the studio within its landscaped garden setting, blending function, craftsmanship, and cohesion in every detail.
Materials & Detailing
The studio is clad in black composite timber battens with sleek glazing and concealed gutters, creating a calm, minimal expression that integrates effortlessly into the surrounding garden.
The vertical rhythm of the cladding complements the charcoal-toned fencing, pagola and external lighting, establishing a strong architectural coherence across the landscaped site.
Inside, the design plays with contrast and balance. Warm shuttering pine plywood walls bring a natural softness that offsets the dark-framed glazing, shelving, light switches, heaters, and anthracite porcelain floor tiles.
Frameless skylights introduce natural light throughout, animating the surfaces and drawing the eye toward framed garden views.
Together, these materials form a unified palette that feels refined yet tactile.
The open layout and carefully aligned sightlines allow daylight and greenery to extend visually through and beyond the space, reinforcing the studio’s sense of connection and calm continuity.
