From a designers point of view, it is always nice when a client approaches you with a clear vision for their garden building. Working with a clear list of features to incorporate can be a challenge at times, but it is great when you can make your clients vision a reality.
The team at Swift Garden Rooms relish working with clients who have a clear vision for their new building. This recent project in North London is an excellent example of how they work closely with their clients to make their ideas a reality.
Gym with lots of glazing and air conditioning
Swift Garden Rooms client wanted to create a home gym building that features lots of glazing and air conditioning. They had specific gym equipment they wanted to include in the new space, so the structure would need to be designed to accommodate it.
Taller than the average garden room
This gym building is taller than the average garden room. Swift's clients identified that when using the gym equipment, they planned, they would need more headroom than an average 2.5m high would offer. So, it was decided that a 2.9-meter high garden room was required.
To be built under the Permitted Development rules, a garden room this high would need to be sited at least 2 meters from each boundary. If you plan to build closer to any boundary, to maximise space, then a planning application would be required. This was the case with this project.
Working with specialist planning consultants, Swift Garden Rooms can handle any planning application for their clients. It is, however, a relatively straight forward process to make the application yourself. This is what Swift's client chose to do with this project. Companies like Swift will be able to provide you with the drawings and plans of the proposed building to include with your application.
Fulfilling the design brief
As is the Swift style, the garden gym has clean contemporary lines. The gym is sizeable 5m x 6m. The request for lots of glazing has been achieved with a 5-leaf set of aluminium bi-fold doors. As we can see, they fold back to one side, creating a great connection with the garden. The doors lead out on to a composite wood deck which wraps around onto the side of the building.
The doors have been fitted with a low threshold. This means that there is no step between the deck and the floor of the room. Subtle design details like this, have a significant impact on the look and usability of the building.
The glazing wraps around on to the side wall. Wrapping around the corner from the bi-fold doors is a fixed full-height window. Further along this wall, there is a small letterbox style window. The addition of small windows like this makes it easy for you to let some air into the room without having to have the doors open.
The addition of mirrors on the rear wall cleverly reflect the view of the garden and make it appear that the room has been fitted with two sets of bi-folds.
Built using the same structural insulated panels - SIP's that are used in housebuilding, a Swift Garden Room is designed for year-round use. The high levels of insulation and performance double glazing, create a room that is comfortable whatever the weather. However, when building a garden gym, it is wise to consider air conditioning so that you can set the perfect temperature for your work out.
Air conditioning was on Swift's client's wishlist. As we can see from the photos, the aircon unit sits discreetly high on a wall, out of the way of the gym equipment. A second unit sits outside the building.
Swift's client is justifiably pleased with the final result:
"We are delighted with our new garden gym. From start to finish the service was first class, Martin and Sue were always quick to answer my endless list of worries with reassurance, everything they said would happen, did. Paulo and his team were an absolute pleasure, and their workmanship was second to none, despite being faced with snow and rain! Can't recommend them highly enough."
Two week build
The gym was completed in two weeks by the Swift team. The project cost £41,980, which is a competitive price for such a large, high-spec garden room.
As with all Swift Garden Room projects, the client's deposit was protected by an insurance backed warranty. The completed building is then protected by a 10-year insurance backed warranty for peace of mind.
