Detached offices set just a few steps away from the back door offer us the best of both worlds: proximity to all the comforts of home but just enough distance to allow us to concentrate with minimal interruptions. You can neatly compartmentalize work and play with no commute in between, and anytime inspiration strikes, your workspace is right there waiting for you.

But even if you’re yearning for a backyard office pod of your very own, space can be a major issue. For one family in New South Wales, Australia, the only available outdoor area was situated on a steep slope that climbed almost vertically to meet the adjoining yard of a neighbor, making it seem nearly impossible to build upon.
Tasked with designing a new addition, architect Matt Thitchener found himself up against all sorts of obstacles. First and foremost, the hillside slopes at roughly a 45-degree angle behind the family?s existing split-level home, so the new volume would have to be safely and securely supported without disturbing the site?s structural integrity. Second, all building materials would have to be lifted right over the home with a crane. But for the clients, who primarily work from home, finding a way to use the slope would create some much-needed extra space while also taking advantage of some seriously picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean ? so Thitchener was determined to find a solution that complemented the challenging landscape instead of clashing with it. The result is a simple, l...