Chris Snook
Chris Snook
THE GROUNDWORK
STUDIO
Architecturally-designed, owner-built, and carefully nestled into the garden
Sector
Residential
Location
SE4, London
Year
2020
Cost Range
£15,000 +
Core Materials
Black-stained pressure-treated timber cladding,
Douglas fir plywood, bleached plaster, reclaimed vinyl flooring, frameless glazing
Photography
shared by the Client
A bespoke garden studio with a hands-on approach to architecture.
Designed by Studio Hleo’s director Richard, and self-built by the client using a step-by-step architectural assembly manual, this multifunctional workspace is cleverly sunken into the ground to meet permitted development height restrictions while maintaining a close connection to the garden.
Located at the end of a residential garden in South-East London, this compact garden studio was designed as a flexible home office and creative workspace, with integrated storage for a growing family's needs and garden equipment.
Partially sunken into the ground, the studio was carefully designed to sit low within its surroundings, ensuring its minimal form does not overpower the garden. Its dark timber cladding and large-format glazing create an understated architectural presence, allowing the building to sit back within the surrounding landscape.
The project was developed around an unusual approach to construction:
Enabling a client with limited building experience to construct their own bespoke garden studio using a detailed, tailored step-by-step architectural assembly manual.
A Compact Interior with an Expansive Outlook
The studio feels bright and open, with natural light entering through the generous rooflight and large-format glazing.
From within, the garden becomes an extension of the workspace, creating a calm and inviting environment.
The Brief & Self-Build Approach
The client approached Studio Hleo's director, Richard, after discovering our earlier project, The Light Shed, and following its construction process documented on social media.
Inspired by the possibility of creating a similarly bespoke garden studio at a lower cost than commercially available alternatives, the client was keen to take on the construction themselves, despite having limited building experience.
What began as a request for a set of architectural drawings evolved into a collaborative self-build approach. Rather than providing conventional construction drawings alone, Richard proposed developing a comprehensive, IKEA-style assembly manual, guiding the client through each stage of the build.
From individual nuts, bolts and fixings to precise dimensions and assembly sequences, every detail was carefully considered and documented. Drawings and diagrams were shared with the client throughout the process, allowing them to provide feedback on the clarity of each instruction and enabling the design and construction methods to be refined and simplified along the way.
This hands-on, collaborative approach made the construction process more accessible, enabling the client to bring their bespoke garden studio to life themselves.
With an initial budget target of approximately £12,000, the completed self-build project was delivered for just over £15,000, according to the client, demonstrating the potential of a carefully detailed, architect-designed self-build approach.
Sample pages featuring exploded axonometric drawings from the bespoke construction manual
Architecture & Garden Integration
A key consideration was to create a garden studio that felt grounded within its surroundings rather than overpowering the garden.
By partially sinking the building into the ground, the required internal height was achieved while remaining within permitted development restrictions. Its low-profile form, dark timber cladding and minimal detailing allow the studio to sit discreetly against the surrounding fences and greenery.
A stepped entrance leads down into the studio, while a raised planting area in front of the large-format glazing encourages vegetation to grow across the lower portion of the window over time. This brings the garden into the immediate foreground, creating a close connection with nature, particularly when seated at the desk.
The studio was designed to become increasingly integrated with its surroundings as the planting and climbing vegetation matured.
Light, Ventilation & Spatial Arrangement
Despite its compact footprint, the studio was designed to provide a bright, comfortable and multifunctional workspace.
Large-format fixed glazing frames views towards the garden and main house, while a generous rooflight, centrally positioned within the green roof, brings natural light into the heart of the studio. A smaller opening window opposite the entrance provides cross-ventilation during warmer months, helping to keep the interior cool.
Bespoke built-in joinery towards the rear accommodates filing, children's toys and household storage, while the L-shaped external courtyard provides additional space for garden equipment.
The roof of this external storage area doubles as an oversized hopper and gutter, directing rainwater through a discreetly concealed Japanese-style downpipe, hidden from the main garden view.
Materials & Detailing
The studio combines a minimal exterior with a restrained palette of raw and natural materials.
Originally specified with burnt cedar cladding, the exterior was adapted to suit the client's budget, using dark-stained, pressure-treated timber as a more economical alternative with a similar aesthetic and durability.
Internally, Douglas fir plywood and bleached plaster provide light, natural finishes, contrasted with darker architectural elements, frameless glazing and reclaimed vinyl flooring.
Materials and details were carefully selected for their honest appearance, practicality and suitability for self-build construction.
This material palette later influenced the renovation of the main house, where plywood finishes, dark accents and coordinated external details created a visual connection between the two buildings.
Reflections
The success of the project lies in the balance between its modest scale, carefully considered detailing and the way it sits within its garden setting.
The slightly sunken arrangement allows the studio to feel closely connected to the landscape from within, while its minimal form and dark cladding maintain a subtle presence when viewed from the house.
The project also demonstrates how a detailed and collaborative architectural process can make bespoke design more accessible, enabling a client to take an active role in creating their own space.
The experience ultimately extended beyond the garden studio itself, with its materials and architectural language influencing the later renovation of the main house.
In the client's words - after having moved from the property:
“The garden studio was a highlight of living at the old house, and building it with your guidance was one of the best things I've done. Thanks for all you did to make it possible.”
