It’s not a Shed…

Among one of the oldest terraces in hackney both planning permission and listed building consent were won followed by a self build construction. Sitting comfortably at the back of the garden, the ‘not shed’ assumes a worn look with the use of raw materials such as raw steel and natural slate - its cracks and creases reminiscent of worn leather.

An entrance and windows are buried in a recessed portico which offer shelter and create depth through shadow. The truncated pyramidal hut-like roof slopes down to meet the neighbours on either side, while concealing a ceiling space within.

A central sky-light provides a bounty of natural light which moves around the space through the day. If this hole is reminiscent of the Parthenon in Rome, structurally the roof nods to the dome of St Peter’s Basilica by means of a a continuous tensile steel plate around the base (mimicking the wrought iron chain of the St. Peters).

• where - Hackney, London

• client - Timothy Spencer [elfa leather works]

• engineer - Rodrigues Associates

• when - 2020-2022

• why - leather workshop/studio 

• size - 24m2

• how - design & construction