9 Of Our All-Time Favourite Backyard Builds

A Japanese-Inspired Backyard Pavilion Made From Recycled Materials

Love Shack by Second Edition stands as an example of what can be achieved with salvaged materials.

The only virgin materials in the project are the tiles, plasterboard and outdoor spa — even the custom-made lights have been made using recycled timber.

At 30 square metres, the project was designed as both an extension of the home and garden; operating as a multi-functional studio, living and guest bedroom space thanks to the clever inclusion of adaptable furniture.

Read the full story here.

A Modest Brunswick Backyard Studio With Major Impact

After nearly a decade in their beloved Brunswick home, a family found their needs outpacing their space. With teenage children and ageing parents to consider, they were at a crossroads: relocate, or reimagine.

Instead of moving from their beloved neighbourhood, the owners engaged architect James Oberin and Veea Built to design a more strategic solution: a modest 24.3-square-metre backyard studio adapted to their evolving lifestyle.

Thoughtfully positioned and sensitively designed, the studio sits quietly within the rear garden.

Read the full story here.

How A Humble Backyard Pavilion Transformed This Brisbane House

When architect Jimi Connor’s dad purchased a 1960s cottage in suburban Brisbane, the house had ‘solid bones’ but very little connection to the outdoors.

In a bid to preserve as much of the old home as possible, the CARD practice co-founder designed an open-plan kitchen and living space within the original footprint, and a transformative garden pavilion.

Read the full story here.

A Life-Changing Backyard Unit For A Full-Time Carer

Studio Uno, as it’s known, is a new standalone backyard unit for Naomi: a full-time carer and mother to an adult child with high support needs.

Naomi required a space of her own, but town planning restrictions meant adding a second standard dwelling to her compact Brunswick site wasn’t possible, so the building was designed as a certified dependent person’s unit that can be dismantled, transported, and reassembled if required in future.

Mihaly Slocombe Architects went beyond functionality to design a site responsive, flexible, and nourishing self-contained residence on a 31-square-metre footprint.

Read the full story here.

Inside A Furniture Maker’s Shed Turned Studio

Almo Troup and Tild Simpson are the dream team behind Melbourne-based design practice, Trouthouse.

After a savvy renovation, what was once a ‘very decrepit old shed’ in the couple’s Preston backyard has become a functional workshop where they handcraft their timber objects. Better yet, it’s built from mostly salvaged materials!

Read the full story here.

How This $200k Backyard Pavilion Transformed A Family Home

Instead of creating a traditional extension for this Newcastle family home, Curious Practice proposed a budget-friendly alternative: a new studio built in the backyard.

Taking inspiration from the simplicity of Japanese architecture, the plywood pavilion finds enough space for an additional living room, bedroom, bathroom and laundry — all tucked neatly into a 35-square-metre addition.

Read the full story here.

Inside A Family’s Very Stylish + Sophisticated Backyard Studio

This clever free-standing studio was built in the backyard of a Brunswick East family home as a more sustainable, cost-effective alternative to a traditional extension of their property.

The owners engaged interior designers Brave New Eco to replace their dilapidated garage with a functional second living room where their teenagers could study or socialise without feeling ‘on top of each other’.

Now, the timber-lined retreat makes the most of the northern sun, with views of a wonderfully leafy courtyard garden.

Read the full story here.

How This Quirky Backyard Studio Transformed A Family Home

Between a couple who work from home, two growing kids, and a visiting grandparent, this 1960s abode in Melbourne’s outer northeast was full to the brim before its recent renovation.

Without altering much of the existing building, Drawing Room Architecture successfully unlocked the house’s untapped potential with a bold new wing — featuring much-needed newfound living space and a self-contained studio designed for aging in place.

Read the full story here.

A Thoughtful Northcote Renovation Brings Family Together With An Open Backyard Kitchen

At this Northcote home, ‘family is everything and pizza is a close second’ after a considered renovation by Melbourne-based architecture firm, Breathe.

Initially an old Edwardian, the revived Fireside House prioritises functionality, liveability, and sustainability, drawing on the client’s upbringing in the country and a love of spending time outdoors by the fire.

Read the full story here.

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