The Tiny Home Movement - The Garden Bunkie by Reddog Architects

Named ‘bunkie’ by one of the owners in reference to their Canadian and the like-named guest cottages in Ontario, the Garden Bunkie is located on a small site in Brisbane. The brief for this space was considerable, therefore it needed to deliver on flexibility of function. Tasked with proposing a quiet retreat for a new mother, an evening workspace and a guesthouse for extended family, Reddog Architects were required to be creative and ingenious with their response. The resulting operable exterior, moveable façade, extended deck and integrated and concealed joinery elements were key, as was a keen consideration for budget.

The use of lightweight construction methods, and viewing the external as an extension of the backyard (not necessarily an extension of the main cottage structure), meant the materiality could be less formal, and consequently more cost-effective. The timber screens then add a layer of richness and warmth that otherwise would not exist in its absence. Internally, the palette is comprised of whitewashed ply, plasterboard and white tiling to create a clean contemporary palette that was too restrictive or dependent on trend-driven aesthetics.