Architecture

Innovation Imperative's modular Tetra Shed goes on sale

Innovation Imperative's modular Tetra Shed goes on sale
Innovation Imperative's modular Tetra Shed is now available to customize and buy
Innovation Imperative's modular Tetra Shed is now available to customize and buy
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Innovation Imperative's modular Tetra Shed is now available to customize and buy
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Innovation Imperative's modular Tetra Shed is now available to customize and buy
The sheds are 3.3 m (10.8 ft) tall and take up 10 sq m (107 sq ft), with 8.5 sq m (91 sq ft) of space internally
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The sheds are 3.3 m (10.8 ft) tall and take up 10 sq m (107 sq ft), with 8.5 sq m (91 sq ft) of space internally
A front view of an open, furnished Tetra Shed
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A front view of an open, furnished Tetra Shed
An angled front view of an open, furnished Tetra Shed
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An angled front view of an open, furnished Tetra Shed
A side view of a Tetra Shed with open window slots
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A side view of a Tetra Shed with open window slots
An internal view of an office-use Tetra Shed
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An internal view of an office-use Tetra Shed
A series of examples showing linear extended Tetra Sheds
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A series of examples showing linear extended Tetra Sheds
A series of examples showing bunch extended Tetra Sheds
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A series of examples showing bunch extended Tetra Sheds
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A couple of years after it was first unveiled, Innovation Imperative's Tetra Shed is available to buy. The Tetra Shed caused a stir when it was launched, with its sleek design and its capacity for modular extension. Now, interested parties can get their hands on customized versions.

The Tetra Shed concept was born of Innovation Imperative's desire to make use of more modern methods of construction and was debuted in 2011. The shed idea was chosen as a multi-purpose space that could be joined together an unlimited amount of times, and that was easy to assemble. Initially, it was going to be rolled out to just the UK market, but the company received so much international interest and feedback that it had to revise its outlook.

"It's been redesigned three times based on the feedback we've received and we're now using a flat-pack system that will be distributed in over 20 countries," company architect Ajasa-Adekunle tells Gizmag. Describing the demand that the company faced, he continued, "It's become an entity in itself. The interest has become overwhelming."

A front view of an open, furnished Tetra Shed
A front view of an open, furnished Tetra Shed

The feedback proved invaluable and, although the shed looks very much the same as the original design, a lot of alterations have been made to the manufacturing and assembly processes. The unusual angles of the design had meant that the assembly required some expertise, but revisions have been made so that the shed can now been put together by just a couple of people without special skills. What's more, the charm of the original design has not been sacrificed.

Each shed is constructed from a plywood core and can be painted on the outside or clad in any material, such as cork, rubber, copper or zinc. The sheds are 3.3 m (10.8 ft) tall and take up 10 sq m (107 sq ft), with 8.5 sq m (91 sq ft) of space internally. They also feature programmable electric underfloor heating and LED lighting, both of which can be controlled via mobile apps.

The sheds can be configured in a multitude of ways. Windows can be added in or removed, cladding materials can be customized, and the sheds can be furnished to differing degrees or left empty. This flexibility means that they can be used for a variety of different purposes. Indeed, the company has a number of existing configurations for use as a lounge, wet-room, sauna or kiosk, among other things.

An internal view of an office-use Tetra Shed
An internal view of an office-use Tetra Shed

This flexibility is likely what has generated so much commercial interest. Ajasa-Adekunle explains that the company has a 168-unit order for a site in central London that is due to be delivered next summer, pending current planning application work. It also has interest from Google and a multitude of other "creative agency-type firms."

Ajasa-Adekunle says its not just commercial businesses that are showing interest though. "It tends to be hobbyists who come up with the most interesting ideas," he says, and goes on to list a range of unusual uses that have been proposed for the Tetra Shed, including beehives, bird hides, dark rooms and yoga or meditation spaces. The company even suggests that as few as four sheds can be joined together and used as a one-bedroom home.

The Tetra Shed can be configured and ordered on the company's website now, with prices expected to be added next week. Pricing is dependent on the customer's configuration preferences, but is expected to be around £15,000 (US$25,200) per shed. Orders will take about three months for processing, building the tailored configuration and delivery.

The video below provides an introduction to the Tetra Shed.

Source: Tetra Shed

tetra shed®: An introduction to the modular building system

View gallery - 8 images
7 comments
7 comments
Matt Fletcher
I see this being made from less than 20 boards with raw materials costing less than $1,000. Then being cut by programmed laser cutter and assembled in roughly 3 hours by two people. So at most it costs $2,500 to build selling for $25,000?
Also the article mentions these can be stacked nicely together but if this is the case than there is another floor plan not shown in the article required to get layouts as shown in several of the stacked arrangement pictures.
Either way I can stack a bunch of square or rectangular sheds together (with windows and electricity) or on top of each other and get a much better use of space than stacking these things and for a fifth (1/5) the price.
O
I prefer the Hexayurt project. A do it yourself open source design, capable of being built from plywood, iso, osb it's been worked on since 2003. Heavily used at the Burning Man Festival. hexayurt.com
BigGoofyGuy
I think that is really nice. I do agree that the price seems rather steep for what one is getting.
The Skud
Way too dear for what you seem to get - materials do not come near to making that cost realistic. Main other trouble is that sheds or small cabins like this are coming out everywhere now, often looking a lot more versatile than this one.
Grunt
It's one thing for the world to show enormous interest in a product... something else totally for that interest to translate into actual sales. £15K+ seems a bit steep for a fancy garden shed, with or without heated flooring.
Brian Taylor
Overpricing an idea that is this easily knocked off (and a child of seven could do it) only ensures that it will be.
David Bell
"They also feature programmable electric underfloor heating and LED lighting, both of which can be controlled via mobile apps"
These features, supplied commercially, add a lot to the cost. $25,000 still seems way over the top.