The backyard-shed-as-home-office idea is catching on in North America, but it is nothing compared to what is going on in the UK. There, they are being promoted as turnkey solutions that reduce commuting, save money for companies, and are being offered as fully outfitted workspaces, the cubicle of the 21st century.

Screen shot from sketchup video here; I do hope they hire an architect.

The Reverend Kenneth Dupin just wants to make it easier for people to take care of aging adults and keep them close to home; he has developed what is essentially a hospital room in a garden shed. But in Fairfax county, Virginia, it is controversial and the NIMBY's are out.

Shedworking

Teardrop trailers have been around since the thirties; they are compact, aerodynamic, lightweight and beloved by many travellers.

In 1979 the Swedish Housing Minister, Birgit Friggebo, changed the building codes to exempt structures under 15 square meters (about 150 square feet) from the requirement for a building permit. For this act, she has been immortalized, as these small buildings are now known as Friggeboden.

Brad Moon, The Geek Dad at Wired, discovers the FunkyBunky, noting that "one of these colourful and playfully deranged buildings would be pretty fun as a workspace."

Bunky or Bunkie is a Canadian term for a sleeping cabin for guests or kids, accessory to a summer cottage.

Photos copyright Manuel Villa or Sergio Gomez, used with permission

One would expect bigger things from an architect aptly named Manuel Villa, but one certainly cannot complain that he does lovely garden offices like this Habitable Polyhedron.

As the boomer generation hits retirement, where are they going to live? Many will want to stay in their neighbourhoods, close to their family. In an era where it is becoming impossible to get a mortgage, perhaps they may even want to share their house with their kids.

FabCab isn't just another pretty prefab, but part of a plan to address this demographic certainty.

Images from WAN

Architect Amir Sanei has a lovely garden in Suffolk in the UK, and enjoys building things in it. He discusses his lovely garden shed in World Architecture News:

"I didn't set out to make a Wendy House, I set out to make something.