In 2024, Sam and James came to Design for Me looking for an architect for a timber garden building on the edge of Hampstead Heath. Their ambition was to replace an existing annex with a contemporary garden gym and spa that could be used year-round.
After registering their project on Design for Me, we matched them with several architects experienced in garden buildings and bespoke residential projects. Following a series of introductory meetings, they chose to work with East London architect Benjamin Machin.
We’re delighted to share that Benjamin Machin’s studio has recently been selected for inclusion in New Architects 5, the Architecture Foundation’s forthcoming publication and widely regarded as the definitive guide to Britain’s emerging architectural talent. The publication will be released in summer 2026.
Photography by Freddie Marriage.
Sam & James’ simple brief to find an architect on Design for Me:
Project name: ‘New garden gym and spa’
“I have a Victorian terrace house with a nanny annex in the garden. I would like to knock down this annex and rebuild a gym/spa in its place..“
About Architect Benjamin Machin
Benjamin Machin directs an architecture studio in East London, working across the United Kingdom and occasionally abroad. The studio finds beauty everywhere and likes making non-original, generous buildings.
The studio is an RIBA Chartered Practice and is small by design, with Benjamin leading the design and management of each project. The practice is a signatory of both Architects Declare and the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge. Alongside directing the studio, Benjamin is actively engaged as a visiting critic at various schools of architecture across the United Kingdom and has led a teaching studio at Loughborough University since 2021.
Design starts by looking carefully at what is already there: the street, the ground, traces of use. These ordinary things carry meaning, and we take them seriously. We seek out what excites – buildings, objects or stories that can make this ordinariness feel newly alive.
You can see their profile below to shortlist him for your home building or renovation project:
A Contemporary Timber Garden Building
The completed project is a beautifully crafted timber garden building that sits sensitively within its landscape on the edge of Hampstead Heath. Designed as a contemporary garden gym and spa, the new structure replaces the former annex with a calm and elegant retreat, demonstrating how a relatively simple brief can evolve into an exceptional piece of architecture.
For homeowners considering a garden room, garden gym or bespoke outbuilding, this project is a great example of how the right architect can unlock the potential of a site and create a building that feels both functional and special.
Sam and James initially spoke with several architects through Design for Me, including Benjamin Machin, before deciding to appoint him for their project.
You can view Benjamin Machin’s full profile on Design for Me and shortlist him if you’re looking for an architect for a timber garden building, garden gym or bespoke garden room project.
The Finished Project
