The micro-home that was originally called a "shed" is a shed for living. It's in response to today's current economic climate where housing needs to be affordable and easily deliverable.
What has become apparent though since they have developed the concept, is that the design is actually appealing more to a market that aren't feeling such hardship. The demand for home offices, garden studios, playrooms and guest accommodation is growing, and the offering is substantially different to the alternative designs available.
And so as the name "shed" became less appropriate for such a diverse range of micro-buildings, a new brand was created... dwelle. For Grand Designs Live at the NEC, they will be building "big dwelle.ing", the largest structure.
By incorporating renewable energy systems into the building, it's possible for the dwelle.ing to achieve Zero Carbon status. They have also been careful to design and specify internal fittings and finishes that contribute to their own "healthy home" requisite, to improve air quality, cleanliness and health and safety.
The architects were keen not to compromise on space standards and quality of design to achieve a low-cost micro-home. The layout of the dwelle.ing is extremely efficient and compact, yet provides a spacious feeling with a double height space over the main living area. Directly over the kitchen and shower room is a double bed deck with ample storage and hanging space for clothes. To maximise storage, one of the most important attributes people look for in a home, an inner "sleeve" has been designed that incorporates cut outs for furnishings and fittings, and elsewhere provides plenty of storage space.
This inner lining also contributes to the buildings excellent thermal performance. The (FSC Certified) timber framed walls, floor and roof are insulated using cellulose fibre (extracted from 100% recycled newspapers). The windows are all double glazed, and the shed is heated by electric underfloor heating with the option of a real wood burning fireplace.
All-in-all, the dwelle.ing provides a very unique alternative living, working or playing environment, which is eco-friendly, healthy, low cost and easily deliverable.
about the designers
Richard Frankland is based in Manchester's Northern Quarter. He is passionate about design, sustainability and new technologies. After coming runners up in the National Home for the Future competition to design a zero carbon house (voted for by the general public), his practice continued to develop the design to make it simpler and far more affordable (www.ecohomeworks.co.uk).
As a result of the recession, many of the practice's housing projects were placed on hold, and so they investigated an alternative solution to create smaller dwellings and structures that could easily be adapted to suit a wide variety of uses. And so they created "sheds for living", which they recently re-branded as "dwelle".
They have also developed a Zero Carbon Home called home:works. The main practice website... "FKDA".
dwelle. has two websites that provide some further details on how our designs can cater as a working environment and also as a leisure space... "sheds for working" and "sheds for playing".
