Minimal Garden Room Design: Accommodating Workspace and Wellness Needs through a Compact Sauna, Cold Plunge, and Office Area
Toronto's Tranquil Garden Oasis: A Home Office and Wellness Retreat
In the heart of Toronto, behind Queen Street West, a unique garden room has emerged as a tranquil oasis for recharging while combining a home office and wellness space. Designed by Simone Ferkul, this minimalist haven is a testament to nature, minimalism, and wellness-oriented architecture.
The exterior of the garden room features a striking black wood shell that provides a striking contrast, harmonising with the garden's greenery. This design choice ensures the structure blends seamlessly into its surroundings, creating a strong continuity between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Stepping inside, one is greeted by an interior primarily consisting of soft, light oak and deep green marble. The oak, notably used for built-ins like desks, lends a calming presence and visual warmth, while the green marble serves as a subtle but impactful focal point. Large openings and natural finishes further enhance this connection with nature, critical for wellness.
The design principles emphasise balance and functionality without clutter, drawing inspiration from global wellness architectures focusing on grounding and restorative experiences. The minimalist approach ensures the room is practical for work and restorative for relaxation, while the integration of a cold plunge pool and a sauna caters to the client's desire for a peaceful retreat that blends functionality with relaxation.
Small shifts towards Scandinavian lifestyle principles can be seen in the garden room's design, elevating everyday wellness practices. Materials were chosen for their natural beauty, warmth, and ability to evoke a sense of serenity. Light oak, for instance, was selected for its calming presence and visual warmth.
In summary, the main design elements and principles include minimalist design to reduce distractions and enhance calmness, the use of natural materials like light oak and deep green marble for warmth and texture, a black wood exterior for visual integration into the garden setting, large openings and natural finishes to connect indoor and outdoor areas, functional built-ins to maintain practicality without clutter, and inspiration drawn from global wellness architectures focusing on grounding and restorative experiences.
The garden room's subdued and natural palette, along with its architectural simplicity, integrates the building with its environment, reinforcing the indoor-outdoor living experience essential for a wellness-focused workspace. This tranquil oasis offers the opportunity to improve daily routines, providing a dedicated space for wellness practices and serving as a sanctuary for productivity and relaxation in the bustling city of Toronto.
- The minimalist design of the garden room, inspired by wellness-oriented architecture, reduces distractions and enhances calmness.
- The use of natural materials like light oak and deep green marble in the garden room's interior lends a warm texture and promotes a sense of serenity.
- The black wood exterior of the garden room harmonizes with the garden's greenery, creating a strong continuity between indoor and outdoor spaces.
- The integration of a cold plunge pool and a sauna in the garden room caters to the client's desire for a peaceful retreat that combines functionality with relaxation.
- Small shifts towards Scandinavian lifestyle principles are evident in the garden room's design, elevating everyday wellness practices.
- The subdued and natural palette of the garden room, along with its architectural simplicity, integrates the building with its environment, reinforcing the indoor-outdoor living experience essential for a wellness-focused workspace.