Shed of the year 2024, Sponsored by 
Wholly bespoke designed and built by myself, with smart full colour ceiling and wall lighting, integrated wireless sound system. Smart floor and air heat source pumps for heating. Fully integrated with an online booking system the cabin will automatically have the temperature at the perfect level for any classes. Fully insulated with materials sourced locally wherever possible and backing on to a nature reserve it really is the most peaceful place to spend time. Pop down for a mediation session, watch the squirrels, muntjacs or woodland birds from the window. Or setup the cinema screen for an evening movie at the edge of the woods. Used as a Yoga studio by my wife for teaching wholistic classes and used by family and friends as a peaceful space to unwind.
So lockdown came last year and I decided it was the perfect time to create some positivity in such a negative time. My wife and I had always discussed taking down the old lean-to greenhouse and brick aviary we inherited when we bought our house. With my wife teaching Yoga in local village halls it made perfect sense to build something she could run classes from and the family could enjoy. Sheltering under an oak tree with a nature reserve at the bottom of a garden it needed to be functional, warm and blend in to the background. The trouble is I have never built anything like this, but know I can call on friends and family&. Oh hang on were slap bang in the middle of a national lockdown. So with my hours reduced at work it was put the laptop away, work trousers on and get digging, cutting, sawing and joining. Stick framed, insulated with smart lighting, underfloor heating, air source heat pumps and integrated sound system all controlled via mobile apps. I hope Ive managed to blend a modern calming interior with a natural exterior that blends into the surroundings.From lifting the walls to lifting the 20 boards of OSB and 86 kg roof rubber on my own required a little ingenuity. Three skips of earth removed by hand and wheel barrow, over 4 tonnes of wood handballed from the drive to the back garden. The only thing I did not do myself is the electrics. Im particularly proud of the walls, 18m plywood sheets, rather than try and hide the joints I wanted to make them a feature. I think it gives the inside a Japanese feel.Although used for Yoga and meditation classes, more and more uses are becoming apparent. It now doubles as a lockdown cinema room and with the full spectrum smart lighting (with disco mode) will no doubt host many a kids party. We also found ourselves in the local paper.So the cabin is built and being used for online classes at the time of writing, with camera and projector system quickly retro-fitted, but the build does not stop there. Solar panels will give it an extra environmental credential, then on to the breakout area where there will be an outdoor cinema with seating BBQ area and mini bar for green teas and GnTs. So, another week off work with nothing to do... Time to work on the chill-out (well even more chilled) area. Two benches that transform into picnic tables and a movable wall can transform the cosy snug space to a family summer BBQ space. And not forgetting the concealed outdoor cinema screen for late night summer movies.
To see the transformation from snug to bbq go to: https://youtu.be/lXj2_Zu8UrM
Take a peek inside: https://dev.theyogacabin.space/TakeAPeek
