Garden office in Hampton published on Real Homes

Looking back at the publication of our project for a garden office in Hampton on the July issue of Real Homes Magazine.

Our project for a garden office in Hampton was published on the July 2019 issue of Real Homes Magazine.

This marks a very significant step for our firm since it is the first relevant national publication of our work.

The project of the garden office is understandably a project that is very close to our heart since it is our very own office.

The idea of having a separated building for our practice dates to 2015 when the office was founded. The idea behind this was that it would make sense to enhance our property and at the same time achieve a very practical space to carry out our operations. With many people working remotely from home I suspect that this kind of configuration will become more and more popular.

We feel that our office is much more than a traditional garden office shed and from a planning perspective, it is a very good example of what you can build under Permitted Development.

We are very happy that our project was recognized as worthy of publication. The office itself proved to be a wonderful space to carry out or work as Architects in every moments of the day. The amount of daylight received both in the morning and in the afternoon is just optimal in any season of the year and this makes us very satisfied.

In a sense we treated the office project as our very own experiment and we can say that it embodies all the qualities that we try to achieve in every project: attention to detail, materials quality and careful relationship between architecture and daylight.

The same magazine asked to publish an article for another Square One Architects projects, the house extension in East Sheen. This may follow in the next few months; we will certainly keep our blog updated!

RIBA featured project!

A big thank you to the Royal Institute of British Architects for having published our project for a Garden Office in Hampton in their official 2018 commercial brochure.

Our project for a garden office in Hampton was featured in latest RIBA 2018 commercial directory.

We are always very proud to have our projects featured in this type of publication as a recognition of our hard work during both the design and the construction stage.

In this case Square One Architects acted as both the Architect and the client and it was a very interesting experience because it allowed us to have a look at the construction process from two different points of view.

On one hand being the project client made our life easier in the sense that we kept a tight grip on every decision and the actions of the Architect in terms of design were perfectly harmonised with the duties of the client both during the design and the construction stage.

Said that being Architect and client at the same time presents its own issues; Having less constrains during the design phase can be very challenging. It may seem counterintuitive however it is much easier to design a project when the there are many limitations about what can and cannot be done. I think someone said that total freedom is the worst prison for an Architect, and I tend to agree with this statement. The input from a client is an essential part of our work as Architects and the limits to our creativity are essential to our work.

In order to avoid working in total freedom (or maybe I should say anarchy), we built our project around some existing limitations that were already in place. Some were purely technical (planning, drainage etc..), some were financial and in the end, we managed to find a balance that works for us.

We certainly wanted a simple building that could act as an incubator for our young practice. We were not looking for an architectural statement that could leave a mark in the short term, but also become boring or impractical in the long run.

In this sense the project was very successful. Many architects in history did not want to live or work in one of the buildings they designed because they would be over critical about their design and challenge every detail daily driving them eventually crazy!

Luckily this wasn't the case with our garden office project and we're still thoroughly enjoying working in this space to date.

The final project pictures can be seen here.

Our latest project

Check out here our latest project in Hampton! We are excited to share our new project, which showcases our innovative design and expertise. This project was carefully designed for our own office, combining functionality and aesthetics. Every detail was thoughtfully created to create a balanced and inspiring work environment. Explore the intricate beauty of our architecture and be amazed by the blend of modern and timeless design.

As the client and architect, the experience is exciting. We have the freedom to envision the ideal space and bring it to life. Being involved in every step of the design process allows for easy communication and a personal connection to the project. It's thrilling to see ideas come to life, as we have a unique perspective. We can be creative and make informed decisions. Being both the client and architect is a privilege and adventure filled with excitement and possibilities.

Our new office space is designed to inspire creativity and collaboration, while also providing a welcoming environment for meetings with our clients. The modern layout creates a professional atmosphere for productive conversations and brainstorming. We believe that this new office will improve our team's productivity and create a better experience for our clients as we work together on their exciting design projects.

Garden office construction updates

Update No.1 (01/07/2021)

Construction of our new modern studio has officially started, marking an exciting achievement for Square One Architects. With careful planning and attention to detail, our team has begun this project, ensuring that every part of the studio aligns with our vision for creativity and innovation. As the foundation is laid and the structure takes form, we eagerly look forward to the day when our new studio opens, creating a space designed to encourage imagination and teamwork among our talented team. Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this amazing journey to redefine how we work and inspire others through our architectural projects.

Update No.2 (13/04/2017)

Lengthen:
The construction progress on the project is moving steadily ahead. The foundations, floors underlay, and damp proof membrane (DPM) have all been successfully installed, providing a solid base for the building. Today marks an exciting milestone as the timber structure is being erected, bringing the architectural vision to life. As the team carefully assembles each piece, we eagerly anticipate witnessing the form and shape of the building taking shape.

Update 3 (16/04/2017)

Timber structure on its way, and the progress is notable. The team has been tirelessly working despite the unrelenting weather conditions. Rain or shine, they have managed to make steady advancements. The clear skies have been a blessing, allowing the construction to proceed smoothly and swiftly. With each passing day, the framework of the timber structure takes shape, and the building starts to reveal its architectural design.

Update No.4 (20/04/2017)

The construction crew has successfully finished the main structure of the building, marking a significant milestone in the project. With the structure completed, the next crucial step is to install the external doors and skylights. These elements will not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of the building but also play a practical role in providing natural light and ventilation. The team is excited to move forward with this phase and eagerly awaits the arrival of the doors and skylights template. By seamlessly integrating these features, we aim to create a functional and visually stunning space.

Update No.5 (12/06/2017)

The office's siberian larch cladding supplied by Russwood will be installed this coming week and it will provide durable and sustainable weather protection to the outside wall. More pictures to come!

We spent a lot of time thinking about the ideal type of timber to be used for the cladding of our garden office in Hampton.

After considering several types of species, including red cedar, we decided to opt for Siberian larch.

This was due to the characteristic of this type of wood whose sap content makes it ideal for external purposes.

The first thing we took into consideration was the colour of the wood in two scenarios. Wood naturally tends to become grey with time and so we had to consider both the wood colour once delivered (especially in order to take fantastic final pictures of the project) and the colour of the wood with a grey tone after a few years.

One of the challenges in using external wood cladding for a building project is that the rate of discoloration can be very different depending on the orientation of the facade. In the case of our project one of the side walls was facing full south and therefore it was reasonable to believe that this facade of the office would become grey quicker and possibly have a different tone from the others for the rest of its days.

In order to avoid this effect, we consulted the supplier who suggested us to use a Swedish product that tends to extract the pigments from the wood accelerating the discoloration process and making it very consistent on all the facades.

This product also acts as a protection, it is simply applied with a paintbrush, but it is also possible to get the planks with the product pre-applied in a factory setting.

The result was extremely good. Our office external colour was very consistent on all the four elevations and it quickly took a beautiful grey tone that gave it a lot of character.

Update 6 (05/10/2017)

We are thrilled to present the first image of our highly anticipated new sustainable, timber-clad office in Hampton. This stunning structure perfectly exemplifies our commitment to environmentally conscious design and showcases the elegance and warmth that timber brings to architecture. Stay tuned for more captivating pictures.

Garden Office in Hampton

We are thrilled to share the first glimpses of our latest project - a stunning garden office located in the picturesque town of Hampton. As we eagerly prepare for construction to commence in the near future, we couldn't resist giving you a sneak peek into the captivating project. Stay tuned for more information!

At Square One Architects, we are proud of our creative approach to design and our dedication to surpassing our clients' expectations. With the help of advanced technology like 3D modelling and realistic rendering, we can offer our clients an unmatched preview of their projects.
Our team of talented architects and designers use state-of-the-art 3D modelling software to create highly detailed virtual versions of our clients' dream spaces. This way, we can display every intricate detail, from the architectural elements to the interior finishes, with a level of realism that has never been seen before.
But it doesn't stop there. We believe that successful design is about being able to envision yourself within the space. That's why our realistic rendering goes beyond just showing what it looks like. We consider lighting, textures, and even the smallest details to create immersive and lifelike environments.
By utilizing 3D modeling and realistic rendering, our clients can confidently start their projects with a clear understanding of how the final result will look. This helps with decision-making and ensures that our designs perfectly match our clients' vision.