This Backyard Cabin Creates a Sense of Escape in Central London

As New Yorkers ourselves, we know as well as anyone the importance of leaving town from time to time for quality R&R. Though a private country house or alpine cabin may be the dream, reality often sets tighter constraints on our actual ability to make frequent rural escapes.

In NYC, we make do with rooftop gardens and shared outdoor spaces. In London, one particularly creative fellow had an even brighter idea—this writer's shed by London-based architecture & design studio Surman Weston.

Designed for such times when quiet concentration is needed and getting out of the city isn't in the cards, this backyard retreat draws on the client's need for a place to write and a want for escape.

The single room shed is modest for sure, but grand in its ability to inspire—at least it sure feels that way to this onlooker. At the very least, it's damn sharp.

A slated wood and cedar shake exterior makes use of naturally weather resistant wood, while a north-facing skylight allows the space to be flooded with sunlight for a majority of the day. The wood-burning stove ups the level of coziness and floor to ceiling bookshelves remind the client why he's there.

All in all, this may just be the best damn backyard wood shed we've ever seen. Then again, with the recent rise of mobile micro cabins, it might have some competition soon...