project inspiration
GARAGE CONVERSION IDEAS
Increasing your property’s usable floorspace with a garage conversion, or turning a detached structure into a home, could be one of the best routes to a new, multifunctional space. Sander Tel takes a look at seven inspiring real-life designs
USEFUL UPGRADE
SIMON MAXWELL
Build It reader Alice Constable Maxwell transformed her Victorian terraced house with a full renovation and extension. The project involved converting the 19m² garage to maximise the home’s floorplan and habitable space. The work was completed under permitted development (PD) rights and required a subfloor to be added to the garage structure, with a waterproofing membrane beneath, but no extra insulation was needed. The original sidehinged doors were replaced with a contemporary, sliding and folding model that can be opened to allow bicycles to be carried in and out with ease. A built-in front door – which the couple utilises as their main entry point – makes for convenient access.
FAMILY LIVING
DAVID BARBOUR
Seeking extra space without leaving their home in Portobello, Scotland, this family converted the dilapidated stone garage at the end of their garden. Designed by Chambers McMillan Architects, the scheme incorporates a workshop, studio and a mezzanine den above with a unique, asymmetric roof. The design embraces exposed materials both inside and out, such as tin, timber cladding and OSB boards. The fully-glazed elevation helps to establish a strong connection to the garden, while the yellow framing calls back to the garage’s original door. (Chambers McMillan have now evolved into two practices: Studio McMillan Architects www.studiomcmillan .com, and Mind the Gap Inclusive Design Consultancy www.mind-the-gap.space)