‘Shoffice’ (Shed+Office) is a garden pavilion with a compact office, situated in the backyard storage area of a 1950s terrace home in St. John’s Wood. Essentially, the concept of the shoffice is a sculptural form that flows seamlessly within the garden space.
The office space features large glass windows enclosed within an elliptical shell, formed by extruded materials that curl like wood shavings and extend into the lawn, creating a small terrace (BIM-designed). Inside, the floor is laid with oak, and the workspace includes a cantilevered desk with built-in storage cabinets. Two skylights—one directly above the desk and another opening to the sky outside—flood the office with natural light, creating an inviting and bright environment.
This project was realized through close collaboration between architects, structural engineers, and contractors. The lightweight structure is composed of two steel ring beams, wooden ribs, and a multi-layered panel skin, all resting on a minimal cushion foundation (BIM-built). Most of the components were prefabricated to minimize material movement and disturbance to the existing house during construction.
▲ Exploded View Diagram
Project Information
Architectural Design Firm: Platform 5 Architects
Location: St. John’s Wood, City of Westminster, London, UK
Category: Office Buildings
Structural Engineer: Morph Structures
Contractor: Millimeter
Year of Completion: 2012
Photographer: Alan Williams Photography
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