The Light Shed: Using ONDULINE CLASSIC to deliver texture and simplicity
19 March 2026When architectural designer and director Richard Andrews of Studio HLEO set out to reconfigure his Forest Gate home, he also wanted to make better use of the garden. The ambition was to create a flexible space that could support both family life and creative work. The result is The Light Shed - a carefully considered garden studio that combines a contemporary design language with a simple, functional approach to materials.
The project
Drawing inspiration from traditional Scandinavian outbuildings with restrained architectural styles, the design explores how modest structures can deliver both practicality and architectural character. The completed architectural development of the property included a 30m² rear extension, full house renovation, and a 34m² loft conversion into a master suite, all of which reconfigured the internal layout of the home. Alongside this, a dedicated garden studio was introduced to maximise natural light and provide a quiet workspace within a landscaped garden design.
Central to the project was the selection of materials that could support the architectural intent while remaining straightforward to work with during construction.
A contemporary interpretation of the traditional garden outbuilding
The Light Shed was conceived as a modern interpretation of the traditional garden workshop or outbuilding, simple in form but carefully detailed. The studio sits at the rear of the property as a distinct structure within the garden, offering a quiet and functional workspace separate from the main house.
A defining element of the design is the use of ONDULINE CLASSIC bitumen sheets, installed vertically as cladding across the exterior of the building.
While widely recognised as a lightweight roofing material, the sheets offered a practical solution for the façade of the studio. According to Richard, when installed vertically, the corrugated profile introduces strong linear detailing that enhances the proportions of the structure, creating subtle shadow lines that add depth and texture to the exterior.
The vertical orientation of the sheets also reinforces the height of the studio space, helping to give the compact building a confident architectural presence within the garden setting.
Designing for simplicity and buildability
For Richard, the choice of material was closely linked to the way the building would be constructed. The Light Shed was developed as a self-build project, which meant the materials needed to be manageable to handle and install without compromising the design.
“The intention was always to create something that worked first and foremost as a practical workspace,” explains Richard Andrews, founder of Studio HLEO. “The shed needed to perform well as a studio, but it also had to sit comfortably in the garden and feel like a considered piece of architecture rather than just a typical garden building. Using the corrugated sheets vertically helped give the structure a clear identity while keeping the materials simple.”
The material also supported some of the finer design details within the scheme. The clean vertical lines of the cladding complement the studio’s bay window detailing, helping to create a cohesive exterior that balances simplicity with carefully considered architectural features.
A practical solution for contemporary garden buildings
In addition to contributing to the visual character of the building, ONDULINE CLASSIC formed part of the external envelope for the garden studio, providing a lightweight cladding solution suited to the straightforward construction approach of the project.
The material allowed the structure to be built efficiently while maintaining a clean and consistent exterior finish across the façade, supporting the overall aim of creating a simple, functional workspace set within the garden.
The finished building demonstrates how lightweight corrugated sheets can be used creatively within small architectural projects, offering both functional performance and a distinctive visual character.
You can view more information on ONDULINE CLASSIC for cladding here.
Architect: Hleo Limited
Photo Credit: Chris Nook Photography