The Egret Pod

“The Studio is a place of retreat to paint, think and take the occasional afternoon nap while looking out to surrounding fields.”

The Vision

To fully unleash our creativity, many of us dream of a designated quiet place just seconds away from our existing home. Our client, retired architect Christophe Egret, had these very ambitions – to build a cosy, quiet garden studio dedicated to art, contemplation and rest, surrounded by the rolling meadows of Birdham, West Sussex which he already calls home.

Christophe first discovered U-Build while reading Work from Shed, a 2022 publication of innovative and attractive outdoors remote working spaces. To make room for his new garden pod, he removed two old sheds and successfully used the U-Build system to realise his project goals.

The Build

Our Fox garden studio design provided the overall structure of the build, which was tailored to meet Christophe’s style preferences. A distinctive feature is the glazing: added rooflights and a circular window for maximum illumination and flair. Reflecting on this particular highlight, he says “The round window, like an oculus, mirrors a window on the main houseboat and looks back at the main home a few yards away.”

The site, located on a somewhat inaccessible and muddy floodplain, had initially raised accessibility concerns that stood in the way of building endeavours. U-Build’s flat-pack, modular system, however, offered the perfect solution to overcome these logistical barriers. The simplicity of the U-Build design is a major benefit over pre-fabricated solutions. Since every part can be hand-carried through an existing house or stairwell, or in this case a small footbridge connecting the property to the land, U-Build is the ideal choice for creating new space on restricted sites. 

The entire structure was raised on pod feet to ensure stability on the damp terrain, as well as being internally composed of our signature plywood boxes in spruce, a structural choice that lends itself to being both strong and lightweight. Fully insulated with Thermafleece sheep’s wool, the studio can be enjoyed throughout all seasons.

Results and Reflection

For Christophe, the sooner the project was ready, the better. The total build process, from the initial design consultation to the finished product, took just 2 months to complete. Apart from some initial support from our U-Builders to move materials onto site, the build was achieved by our client and his builder, Kuba.

Christophe reflected on the swift process and satisfying end result: “The structure was built in just a week, beautifully insulated and full of light. The delicate aroma of timber makes it feel intimate and organic […] Thank you to the U-Build team who have been wonderfully professional throughout the design and supply process.”

If you’re interested in building a garden studio, you can choose from one of our existing creations or Design Your Own. Once you’re happy with the design, the parts are cut and shipped directly to you. Our team will walk you through the entire process, starting with the initial design concept, managing delivery logistics and providing support on-site during construction.

Looking for more garden studio inspiration? You can browse through our other residential pod projects here.