Below, we round up seven of our favorite examples of small structures making a big impact.

Gabled Garden Shed in Belgium

Architect: Indra Janda

Location: Belgium

An A-frame garden shed in Belgium by architect Indra Janda is composed of simple, everyday materials: a wooden frame wrapped with poly-carbonate shingles. The skin glows like a lantern at night, revealing the structural forms within. When the sun shines, the structure sits as a textured, geometric form, elegant in the green setting.

Shedded Bliss

Architect: Avanto Architects

Location: Finland

A prefabricated hideaway, combining greenhouse and shed, provides a perfect summer retreat. Linda Bergroth developed this micro-model in collaboration with Avanto Architects to create the essential, small retreat, now available for purchase through outdoor company Kekkilä.

A DIY Montana Home and Shed

Architect: Intrinsik Architecture

Location: Bozeman, Montana

Inspired by the modern prefab movement, an efficient home in Montana was built for the affordable price of $150 per square foot. The homeowner took on much of the construction work himself, and now stores the tools he used in the small wood shed adjacent to the home.

An Airy Addition to a Historic Boise Home

Architect: Heidi Beebe and Doug Skidmore

Location: Boise, Idaho

A renovation of a historic Boise, Idaho, home includes a modern, light-filled addition at the back of the house, as well as a stand-alone studio now used as a home office and play structure. It is a blend of old and new, open and closed, playful and work.

An Australian Getaway's Guest Studio

Architect: Annick Houle and Stephen O’Connor

Location: Mornington Peninsula, Australia

A studio with Scandinavian influences becomes a quiet haven for the residents of this Australian house. With a built-in desk, wood-burning stove, Alvar Aalto stools, and an Aalto daybed, it is a minimally designed retreat with a sense of calm and connection to the landscape.

Tiny Backyard Studio in Seattle Filled with Midcentury Finds

Architect: First Lamp

Location: Seattle, Washington

A small backyard studio in Seattle is filled with colorful midcentury finds. Titled the Orchid Studio, the retreat accommodates dual functions. One, it provides a location for the owners to pursue their passions of painting, sculpture, furniture, and gardening. Second, it can transform into a guest house instantly for a private oasis.

On Your Mark, Get Sett

Architect: Sett Studio

Location: Austin, Texas

Austin-based, modern prefab designer Sett Studio provides a tiny house complete with charred wood siding, floor-to-ceiling windows, and bamboo floors. SIP panels are used for all structural surfaces, providing greater durability and energy efficiency. The homes are currently sold at Treehouse, a sustainable home goods store in Austin.

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