Outbuildings
How They Did It: A Translucent Toolshed in North Carolina
We take a closer look at the design details of a small, contemporary and multipurpose backyard shed
This smart-looking backyard shed in North Carolina was designed for an owner who wanted a cabana for backyard parties as well as a place to store and do woodworking projects, according to architect John Reese. The shed’s translucent exterior invites closer inspection, so we asked Reese to tell us about it.
Large sliding doors, one sheathed in plywood and covered with flat-seamed break metal, and the other a steel-framed, translucent polycarbonate panel, bypass each other via double-track barn door hardware.
An aluminum roll-up door and a cantilevered precast concrete sill infill the concession-type service window facing the lawn, and a single row of 8-inch glass blocks provides a day-lit clerestory that faces the neighboring property.
An aluminum roll-up door and a cantilevered precast concrete sill infill the concession-type service window facing the lawn, and a single row of 8-inch glass blocks provides a day-lit clerestory that faces the neighboring property.
Challenges: The designers had to maximize the available opening width of the interior while allowing flexible access to either end — without compromising the use of the driveway as an off-street parking space.
They had to be careful with the structural connections that provide a “hovering” yet waterproof roof. A qualified artisan fabricated and installed the low-slope curvature of the standing-seam roof.
It was also important to provide ample daylight through windows without compromising security or creating unsightly interior views. And they had to maximize the interior height while maintaining a low, neighbor-friendly roof profile.
See photos of the historic main home
They had to be careful with the structural connections that provide a “hovering” yet waterproof roof. A qualified artisan fabricated and installed the low-slope curvature of the standing-seam roof.
It was also important to provide ample daylight through windows without compromising security or creating unsightly interior views. And they had to maximize the interior height while maintaining a low, neighbor-friendly roof profile.
See photos of the historic main home
How it works: By mounting a wire grid to the back of the polycarbonate door, tools are organized in a space-saving display that is shadowed at night through the lantern-like panel.
The roll-up serving window and concrete sill is especially useful for urban lawn parties. The building is outfitted with a dedicated electrical circuit and water service for bartending.
The entire building can be power-washed to like-new condition.
More:
How to Add a Backyard Shed for Storage or Living
World of Design: 11 Inspiring Sheds From Santa Barbara to Stockholm
Tell us: Do you have a cleverly designed multipurpose shed? Please share a photo of it in the Comments.
The roll-up serving window and concrete sill is especially useful for urban lawn parties. The building is outfitted with a dedicated electrical circuit and water service for bartending.
The entire building can be power-washed to like-new condition.
More:
How to Add a Backyard Shed for Storage or Living
World of Design: 11 Inspiring Sheds From Santa Barbara to Stockholm
Tell us: Do you have a cleverly designed multipurpose shed? Please share a photo of it in the Comments.
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
What it is: A secure, no-maintenance, multipurpose outbuilding to use as a small workshop, tool storage and service cabana for urban lawn parties.
Architect: John Reese of Reese Atelier Ignite
The U-shaped building shell is a concrete masonry unit construction [seen here painted white], and the roof structure is a subtly curved, wood-framed “wing” shape which “hovers” above.
The roof material is terne-coated copper [terne is an alloy of tin and lead], which, due to the shallow curvature, required its standing-seam installation to be hand-hammered by a metal artisan.