By Working from home is great: zero commute, the power nap, walking my kid home from school. Working from home is impossible: the infinite distractions, the temptation to nap, the ill-defined border between work time and home life. How would it be different if my office was still at home, but separate from the house?
The long commute to the backyard home office.
British-made OfficePODS are billed as “garden-based” work environments that sequester home workers from the disruptions of home life. It’s literally a pod – decked with office necessities like desk, wiring, storage – that is stationed in whatever outdoor space you may have to accommodate it. A definitive work environment detached from the home.
The sleek interior of the OfficePOD.
That’s what intrigues me – the clean separation – so often compromised by my tendency to drift into the family fray, or my younger daughter’s cat-like instincts to go from aloof to desperately in need of attention just as I’m digging into a project. Also a factor is the open, great-room nature of many modern floor plans that make home offices obsolete or difficult to define. Yesterday’s formal den is today often relegated to laundry utility rooms or bedroom-corner desks.
The OfficePOD is only one of a slew of detached-office products on the market, and because it’s made and shipped from across the pond, a pricey proposition (close to $25K). You can choose a modular-type, easy-to-install unit based on architectural styles, levels of energy efficiency, and of course, price tag. Anyone have any other good suggestions out there?
Whoa
This really intrigued me. Could't stop staring at it. What a great concept. I would like to see their other designs and costs, consruction methods for securing it in place, etc.
I love it and I want one- badly!
very cool looking office, however for the price of 25k you could make a pretty cool one locally. http://www.atyourdoorfloors.com
http:://www.puttingonthefix.com http://www.floorbarn.com
Brian — I'm glad you bring up the local option. It seems there would be a whole slew of these, with different looks and materials, that could be sourced closer to people's home bases.
Whoa! That is so very awesome! I would think someone on this side of the pond would jump on that band wagon to make it more affordable. The concept plus the facts listed in trying to keep focused at a home office are bound to be a virtual goldmine for some enterprising builders locally.
How about a space-saving pod home with rotating rooms to go with your office pod?
Certainly as space and energy considerations come more into play, the idea won't seem that far-fetched at all. http://dornob.com/space-saving-pod-home-design-wi…
This is an amazing concept, with positive and negative effects that occur to me. I'm sure it would deter my numerous kitchen trips from my current home office, and my productivity may indeed skyrocket. But I am not sure I am willing to live up to the increased expectations!
I think that this is the greatest thing for home office I have ever seen. I wish they would have shown the price and given the company in the USA to order this wonderful office. I would love it, I don't work from home really. I have been working on a book I'm writing. It's not easy when you get into the novel and my husband thinks that I should be able to right back to what I was writting when he come's in and start's talking like I should just drop everything to watch something on TV. I would be able to think without TV or grandkids interupting me every few minutes.
Wonderful. too bad the company is in England, that will be a lot of foot prints.
i think it's a great concept but it should have a couple more amentities (like a bathroom and a built in frig and coffe maker). this way i would never need to go into the house until quitting time.
myself i thought it was great but this is my opinion.opinions are like noses evry bodys got one.[!]ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!i so funny.
Well, I think the appeal is the separateness from the main structure; the all glass front for visibility . It is not inspiring to be in a closed in room (like a bedroom) being utilized as an office. However, on this Pod, once received (1) it undoubtedly requires a cement slab; (2) someone has to construct it once it gets here; (3) there are local 'codes'….like this one shows it close to fencing at the back of a property….your area may require a 10 ' setback….. ; (4) and, then, those pesky permits. Realtiy is all in the details. For a price tag of $25K+ along with the previous items mentioned requiring additional costs, why not hire a local contractor – you can still use a lot of glass in your design. End result, you will have a design complementing your existing property which affects your re-sale value, you will have a solid structure and you will have put some good American's to work.
I live in Texas1 Where's the AC (Heat)?
Is there franchise available for Canada
There are many storage/work buildings that could be adapted to this. One the size of this building could probably be insulated, wired (with a heat pump) and furnished for under $10,000 (but nowhere near as good looking).
Has anyone considered creating small rooms with used shipping containers? They are available in most places I think…and if you're handy with a cutting torch, you could make a room pretty easily. We have considered this for a shop on our property. They are water tight…you just need to use spray foam insulation, pick up a window/door and you're done. I have seen containers for around $4,000.
I have seen numerous books and magazines that offer plans for small houses, cottages and cabins from 100 to 350 square feet. If you shop around and visit your thrift and bargain construction stores you could build a wonderful space for 4 to 6 thousand and have something that didn't look like it landed from outer space in your back or side yard. Help our economy (God knows we need it) no some other countries. If you have to hire a local carpenter or handy man to help you build it, you will help the economy that much more. God bless America and it's people.
Nope, this should be a man cave, seal in the smelly socks and belching and other body not so friendly fire…. and there you have a "green way to heat" Okay, enough of being silly. I am a technical writer and work from home, and former construction company owner, there's no way I could or would separate the office from the house, but if I did, financially the price tag is a bit high for the product, but it also depends on where with labor and material pricing for comparisons.
Think about weather elements first of – having to go get a fresh cup of something with caffeine or a potty break…..hmmm in the snow or windy rain…. nope, I will stick to my socks, my kids in fur coats cuddling at my feet and my never ending supply of fresh coffee, tea and an oven nearby for some fresh treats if I have the urge. Sure there are distractions, but they are wonderful ones. If I need a break…I take in a show and work later. It's really down to discipline, a home office can be set up in a dining room (which we did in the past), living room, etc. there are creative ways of keeping the clutter at bay and I have tons of suggestions for anyone needing them. It is a brilliant idea, but I would say perhaps for a kiddie playroom with microphone and camera so you can hear and see what they are doing – would definitively be greater than a tent in the back yard and when they grow up, their mini-home of course (for those kids that never leave home). It could be the kids/husband's movie theater….. there's plenty of great things that it can be used for. Thanks for a great article
It's obvious that this is a European design. You could put it righ next to your Mini Cooper. It's about the same size. LOL! It's a cubicle enclosed in a glass box, people! For $25K you could build or buy something A LOT more attractive and practical to boot. I definitely don't see this design selling very well in the states.
Very nice. But for 25k you can put on a room on your house for that price
Very cool, contemporary concept to offer another "option" for work space. However, being a Real Estate Broker, it is not something I would recommend to my clients with that kind of price tag. Homeowners are better off investing that $$$$ into the home or putting an addition onto the home at that cost or converting garage space with a designated area to residentialize. Detached dwellings, as such, add little to no value to the existing home or property, unless it is secured with a foundation which makes it permanent and not transportable. If you have money to spend, go for it; but if you are budget conscious and looking to grow equity in your home, it would not be the first option I would recommend.
Jennifer McLennand, Broker, IL
Perfect if it's air conditioned for southern LA.
It looks like a 7 x 7 rooms for over $25K…that's about $500 a foot!!!! WOW
This is totally Hot. This might work as an office plan for me. I am a Psychic Medium and really want to find a space that would work for me.
Maybe someday. Thank you for sharing this idea with us all.
Barbara in Sand Springs OK.
Love it, except I would want to VIEW and not be VIEWED. : )
I'd put a window above the desk, and frosted glass elsewhere for privacy.
It's kind of ugly, but it would get my husband out of his current office in the house and I could use that room for something else
This is a very cool concept. One add I might look to have for the pod would be a solar panel to provide power for your computer and lights.
Love it, but is too expensive.
This would make a great sweepstakes prize!
I like the idea of a separate office space at home but not in the home but really I would rather eat dirt than have that thing sitting on my property I think It looks ridiculous.
Interesting idea. Steelcase had the roginal for inside the office called Personal Harbor back in 1995.
http://www.industrialdesignhistory.com/node/126
I'm concerned with it being too portable, like up up and away. Here in Florida & Tornado hit areas in the plains this would be like other manufactured homes. Would a Homeowner's Insurance policy cover it under Appurtenant Structures clause? The appurtenants are covered up to 10% of the home's value. At a value of $25,000. the house would have to be at least $250,000. if covered. Is the glass shatter proof? I'm just saying
Kathy
I think it could be used as an art studio for a painter if you face it North for the light. Maybe two together to make a bigger studio for pottery or crafts.
A USA based company that offers a similar option is called Tumbleweed the tiny house company. They have homes to purchase or sell plans for you to build yourslef. Their homes even have a bathroom and kitchen all in around 100 square feet. You may never go back to your real home:)