A sunken bed and folding ping-pong table feature in this studio converted from a derelict garden shed for a pair of artists in west London.

London-based studio Silver & Co renovated and refurbished the garden shed for a sculptor, a painter and their child, creating a self-contained studio that can also be used as a gallery or a guest bedroom.

Most of the structural elements were in a very poor condition, so the architects replaced these with a timber and steel structure.

Dark zinc and modified timber clads the studio to complement the brick wall of the warehouse behind, and also offer longevity.

To provide the space with plenty of natural light, the architects added a large openable skylight and glazed sliding doors. These face the heated patio at the front, which is designed for outdoor dining and covered by a louvred timber canopy.

The wooden slats also form a balustrade around the outdoor space.

Inside, a series of adaptable wooden furnishings hide different functions when they are not in use.

"The studio has been designed to meet the sculptor's and painter's needs, which include work, hobby, play and storage," said the architects. "With these in mind, the studio has to be as flexible, open and airy as possible."

A section of the timber floor lifts up to reveal a bed sunken underneath, while double doors on the back wall open and fold down to reveal a ping-pong table – facilitating another of the residents' hobbies.

In the main workspace on one side of the room, a long and thin desk folds up underneath a narrow window in the side wall.

Opposite this, birch plywood doors slide to cover the artist's wash-up sink on one side and the adjoining shower room on the other. When open the doors also reveal a small kitchenette behind.

More shelving units run along the top and bottom of the back wall to provide storage space for art materials. A rail is fitted underneath the top level for guests to hang clothes.

The prevalence of garden studios is increasing as real-estate prices spike, with London as one of the hotspots for this typology.

Other projects in the capital city include a cork-clad studio that provides a shared workspace for a musician and a seamstress and a glowing shed designed as a writing retreat for an author.

Photography is by Jason Taylor.

Project Credits:
Interior architects: Silver & Co
Contractors: Building Styles