Best Sustainable Project
Winner: Ecospace Studios, UK
Spinney Retreat, Surrey, London
Judges’ Comments
‘A beautifully designed small studio living/work space. It is inventive in its form and plan achieving rich spatial qualities despite its modesty. It is sustainable in all senses — from offering a compact space to live, that can be fitted to different sites, to its construction and performance.’ Kate Goodwin
‘Inspiring architectural and airy workspace subtly embedded in its surroundings.’ Tina Norden
Ecospace Studios has been creating modular prefabricated buildings for 15 years, and applied all of its knowledge and experience to the design of this custom-made garden hideaway in Surbiton. The 50-square-metre structure is tucked away in the corner of a suburban garden, and contains a bedroom, kitchen, living area and office space that enable the clients to work from home or host guests.
Spinney Retreat utilises o -site construction methods developed by Ecospace Studios in response to growing demand for small-scale, sustainable and flexible modular structures, which it is able to deliver at a fixed cost and with a short delivery period. The building features a sloping roof that allows a mezzanine at one end to accommodate an additional lounge or sleeping area. Sustainable natural materials are employed throughout the project, with interior birch cladding incorporating built-in furniture including the kitchen and desk space. The structure is covered externally in cedar planks that lend it a homogenous aesthetic, which is mitigated by natural variations in the wood’s tone. The cedar boards also form a deck that wraps around the building on two sides, and can be reached through sliding glass doors set into the walls of the bedroom and living area.