Garage – Shed is the conversion of a two-car garage into a garden shed. In plan, the existing mass is doubled and connected with a porch facing an existing house. In section, two boxes sit on top of a pitched roof—one rotated north to carry light inside and the other sheared to resemble a half monitor shed. The residents do not use the garage for parking, but for holding miscellaneous items. Car parts, beer bottles, bikes, and building materials litter the area. With all of the stuff outside, imagine how full the inside is.

This programming is not uncommon in the contempory US context. Garages are often used for storing things. Etymologically, the word stems from garer—to shelter—but perhaps the garage is closer to garder—to keep. Given the occupant’s inclination towards collecting and the project’s modest budget, the renovation plans for an unconditioned space with off-the-shelf materials.

Location: Tidewater, Virginia

Program: Garage addition

Client: 70-something Landlord

Date: 2022 -

Drafter: Bob Lamm