01 · Challenge
Workshop needed, back garden spacious enough
A hobbyist with a large carpentry workshop in Ede had been struggling with a lack of space for years. The kitchen served as a temporary workshop, the garage was too small. The rear garden of the detached house offered space for a new outbuilding, however. The question was how large it could be without eating up the entire garden, and how to build a workshop soundproofed enough for the neighbours. The municipality of Ede imposes limits on the building coverage percentage of the side and rear plot.
02 · Our approach
Maximum space within the permitted boundaries
We calculated the maximum permitted footprint on the rear plot of this property in Ede and designed an outbuilding of exactly 20 m² that fell within it. To avoid visually overpowering the house we chose a low pitched roof with a limited ridge height and a facade in oiled timber that matched the neighbours' carport. The structure consisted of prefab concrete foundation pads, a steel roof beam and timber-frame walls with a thick insulation layer. We submitted the building permit application to the municipality of Ede, including a noise note for the neighbours.
03 · Result
Fully equipped workshop, no complaints from neighbours
The permit was granted within 7 weeks, with no objections from neighbours. The 20 m² workshop is detached from the house, has its own access from the garden and is equipped with a heavy-duty electrical connection for machinery. The insulation is designed so that noise from the workshop is barely audible at the plot boundary. The owner now works there daily with heavy tools without causing any nuisance to the neighbours. A well-designed outbuilding not only solves a lack of space but also addresses the practical conditions for its use.