Project: Design a backyard studio
Design a small backyard studio from brief to presentation: analyse the site, develop concepts, resolve the plan and section with passive design, and present it on one board.
By the end of this project you will
- Write a clear brief
- Respond to site and climate
- Resolve a buildable plan and section
- Present the design convincingly
Project brief
Objective
Design a 20–30 m² backyard studio and present it with site analysis, diagrams, plan, section, elevation and a perspective on one board.
The brief
A 20–30 m² studio in a suburban backyard for working from home or as a small guest room: a work/sleep space, a small kitchenette, and a shower room. It should be comfortable year-round with minimal heating and cooling, step-free, and sensitive to the neighbours. Assume a site in your own city and check which local rules would apply to an outbuilding.
Step 1 — Brief and site
- 1Write a one-page brief: users, activities, area schedule, budget level, sustainability goals.
- 2Draw a site analysis: sun, wind, views, trees, neighbours, access, services.
Step 2 — Concepts
- 1Sketch three different concepts (e.g. a simple box, an L-shape around a deck, a skillion roof opening to the garden).
- 2Evaluate them against the brief and site; choose one.
Step 3 — Develop
- 1Draw the plan at 1:50 with furniture, the shower room and kitchenette.
- 2Draw a section showing roof pitch, eaves shading, ceiling height and insulation.
- 3Check step-free access and circulation space.
- 4Choose a simple structure (e.g. timber frame on a slab or piers) and envelope build-up.
Step 4 — Present
- 1Create site, zoning, sun and ventilation diagrams.
- 2Draw elevations and one perspective (hand, SketchUp or other).
- 3Lay out a single board with the design idea as its title.
Deliverables
Hand in (or keep for your portfolio) the following. Each item maps to a checklist line below.
| Deliverable | Format | What it proves |
|---|---|---|
| Brief and site analysis | 2 pages | You understood the problem first |
| Concept sketches | 3 options | You explored alternatives |
| Plan, section and elevations | 1:50 drawings | The design works and can be built |
| Presentation board | A2 or A1 PDF | The idea is communicated clearly |
Common mistakes
Oversizing the studio beyond the brief or local limits.
Check the area schedule and outbuilding rules before developing a concept.
Big unshaded west windows.
Orient openings to the garden and the equator side, and shade west glass.
A step at the entry.
Design a level threshold with a drained, accessible entry.
Your task
Critique
- Present the board to someone in two minutes.
- Write down their three questions.
- Revise the board to answer them without you being there.
You should end up with: A presentation that stands on its own.
Completion checklist
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Project quiz
Order the design process.
Finished this project?
Taking the quiz marks it complete too. Your course page picks up where you stopped.
Free KitWren tools that help
- Area ConverterConvert square metres, square feet, acres, hectares and more.
- Length ConverterConvert between metres, centimetres, millimetres, kilometres, inches, feet, yards and miles.
- Renovation Cost CalculatorBuild a renovation budget from area, build rate, fixtures, fees and contingency.
- Paint CalculatorWork out how much paint you need for a room’s walls and ceiling, in litres or gallons.
- Flooring CalculatorCalculate how much flooring, timber, laminate or carpet to buy, including waste and boxes.
- Image CompressorCompress JPG, PNG and WebP images to make them much smaller — with a before/after preview and the size saved.
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