Interview : Exciting Eco-Friendly Contemporary Garden Rooms By The English Designer Ben Lord

One of the strongest trends nowadays, on the earth of design, makes a speciality of sustainability. i locate it very curious and exciting to determine the area more engaged towards  environmentally-friendly approaches. The designers’ try to establish a correct dialogue between man and the surroundings is also gratifying. We had several talks with the British designer, Ben Lord from Pod Space  and we asked him a number of questions on his work and the impact he had at the world of sustainable design. For people who are not accustomed to Mr. Ben Lord, he’s an award-winning designer (Pod Space was listed at The Northern Design Awards because the ‘Best Eco / Sustainability’ build of 2012). His eco-friendly timber-framed pods are stylish little pre-fabricated offices, that may be easily placed within the intimacy of any garden, providing a versatile lifestyle and a less common working experience.

Each story has a beginning. Ben, we wish to grasp the start of your story as a designer. What made you opt this path and what influenced your style?

I was mentioned in Yorkshire and got my BA architecture also in Yorkshire. i admire strong, contemporary design but living within the Yorkshire countryside I also want my designs to enrich their natural surroundings.

What is the tale of … Pod Space?

Pod Space was established in 2008 when the idea that of modern garden rooms was just starting up. i needed to design buildings that may be used as a separate extension to the home all year round. At the moment there have been increasingly ‘shed’ like buildings but there has been a spot for rather well designed buildings built to a totally high standard. Since then we’ve developed our designs for garden buildings and the vast majority of our work is now in bespoke designs for our clients and a better emphasis on public sector and commercial buildings.

Your ‘pods’ integrate seamlessly into green spaces. Is there a scarcity of connection, nowadays, between man and our environment?

I think that there’s a growing appreciation of our natural environment and the way precious our natural resources are. There are alternatives when designing and constructing a brand new building to include features so that it will integrate the building in to its environment, both with the materials used and using the gap. i attempt to include materials so we can allow the building to enrich the immediate environment and in addition minimize the broader environmental impact.

The ‘pods’ you create are basically eco-friendly garden studios. Explain in a couple of words your commitment towards our surroundings.  Why is it so important to you?

Living within the countryside gives me a robust appreciation of the natural environment and our responsibility to offer protection to it. Designing Eco friendly buildings requires a more creative approach and its not always the perfect (or cheapest) option nevertheless it is satisfying to understand that we will contribute towards protecting our natural resources.

What makes Pod Space both, stylish and functional?

Some of our design features are quite distinctive to Pod Space together with the sliding louvred screen on our Glide Pod. It is a very stylish addition to the Pod nonetheless it is likewise entirely functional, giving the user the chance to have the sliding doors open with the screen over for privacy and solar shading. Even the small details in our Pods are specified to the top standards in order that the general appearance is stunning but practical for day after day use.

One can make a choice from five standard garden pods, fully customizable. Did you’ve any weird or fun requests up to now?

We’ve had a couple of more odd requests for buildings – once for a flying saucer shaped building! Most of what we do currently is bespoke designs however the majority of our clients come to us because they prefer they style and finish of our existing buildings so usually the request is for something in the same style. We do love a challenge though!

You are an award winning designer, Ben. What inspires you to create compact and versatile unique spaces that disconnect people from the routine?

Routine is a crucial portion of everyday life and most of the people thrive after they have comfort and familiarity. The whole philosophy of Pod Space is to give our clients a possibility to have precisely the building they need within an area where they are often inspired by the natural environment. Having a further living or working space for your garden doesn’t should be a compromise between style and serve as.

We are curious if do you’veyou’ve got you have got a Pod Space for your garden. How often do you employ it?

I am currently re-designing my garden and there’ll definitely be a Pod Space in it! Pod Space is highly busy so I do often atone for emails from home and that i love the idea of getting a warm and bright working space that may be separated from the most important home.

Do you’ve other projects on-going? Are in addition they associated with sustainable design?

We are doing much more work on commercial projects and dealing currently on buildings which require a BREEAM assessment. We’ve a commitment to seeking out new technologies to enhance sustainability within the construction industry and are constantly how one can incorporate these in our buildings.

Is there anything you ought to share with our readers, that perhaps, can make them take a re-evaluation at your wonderful work and (why not) buy a Pod Space?

The best endorsement that we have got is our clients feedback. They’re consistently delighted with the completed building and we now have even had clients returning for a second building after they have moved house. Here is enormously satisfying and it’s why we will be able to keep growing and develop our buildings.