In the beginning, when prefab was reserved for home design and trailer courts, we created a small pre-built space designed to house dreams. And we got a lot of questions.

People thought we were crazy to put this much thought, this level of quality into a ‘shed.’ We constantly got asked what the Mono, our first model, was for. To tell you the truth, we had no answer, because it wasn’t built for any one purpose. It was built so that the client, the person who would be living and being in the space, could define it.

They thought it was a crazy idea. And, maybe it was. But, apparently a lot of other people liked that crazy idea.

Now that we’re a little further along, we can look back on years of builds, new models and inspiration from our clients and give everyone out there an idea of what a DROP Structure could be for.

However, before we get into that, we want to take a moment to clarify a few things.

Minimalist design to house your inspiration

First of all, no matter what we do, our structures are created as a simple tool.

No one asks what a knife is ‘for.’ Some people use them for whittling. Some to cut vegetables. They’ve been used to hunt, protect and create. They are simple tools whose purpose is defined by the user.

Now, a DROP Structure isn’t quite as simple as a knife, but when we designed it we strove to keep that same stripped down feeling. Simply put, each structure is a distillate of what a building is, pared down to walls, a floor and a roof.

If you need a workroom, it becomes a workroom. If you need a dwelling, it becomes a dwelling. And, yes, if you need a shed, it can even become a shed.

However…

Why we never call our structures ‘modern sheds’

Theroux had a shack, and Michael Pollen has a writing shed. So, we understand the appeal of the shed as a place that transcends storage for yard tools.

Great novels have been written in and about sheds, and amazing music has been recorded in them, but, while there might be a little ego in why we don’t call our Monos or Duos sheds, we’ll default to the section above and just say we’re not going to define our spaces for our customers.

So, if you want a writing shack or a modern, backyard shed, we’re ready to help you create the best shed your backyard has seen. But, if you want a cabin for a glamping resort, you won’t have to worry about your guests thinking they’re going to be staying in a shed.

What our clients use their DROP Structure for

Over the years, we’ve worked with a variety of people – all of whom wanted something a little different from their DROP Structure. Because of how we designed it, we were able to accommodate them.

Art, writing or recording studio

There’s a long history of writing sheds (there’s that word again), which we touched on up at the top there. While there is something undeniably romantic about shuffling off to a small shed in the morning, coffee in hand still in a bathrobe, to write, our clients wanted something clean, simple and beautiful to work out of. We’ve built spaces where anyone, from children to Hollywood stars, can access their creativity and follow it without distraction.

Screenwriter Terri Tatchell’s writing hut before interior design.

Resort creation

When we built the first DROP Structure, we were completely focused on creating a personal space. We saw it as a getaway, an office, an art studio. But, three years into production, we had our first developer approach us to create a glamping resort using monos as small cabins. Since then, we’ve worked with many developers, creating everything from micro developments to a new nature retreat.

https://www.dropstructures.ca/blog/2022/9/20/an-austin-getaway

Backyard office

When the pandemic came down, working from home became the new norm. But it came with its own set of difficulties that matched the joys of skipping the commute. For many of our clients, both before and during the pandemic, a backyard office helped them create space between their working world and their home when they needed it most. From tech entrepreneurs to C-level executives, we’ve worked with people in various industries to help them create a space that works for their career.

Tech CEO Danny Halarewich’s home office near Kelowna, B.C., Canada.

Cabin

Sometimes, all you need is an escape, nothing too big or complicated – just a place to rest your head somewhere away from it all. For some, that’s a tent in the wilderness, but others want something more, without bringing in all the complications of modern life. With plenty of windows and a simple interior, a Mono offers the perfect place to enjoy the wilderness without struggling with tent poles.

Stephen Elliott’s escape in the Pacific Northwest

Small living space

Jesse and Candice Herlitz home on the lake.

‘Do you build tiny homes?’ is a question we used to get a lot. Our usual answer is no. However, that’s not entirely true, and it never has been. The truth is even our Mono has been used as a living space, albeit an entirely untraditional one. Other clients have used Duos as transitional housing as they build their new accommodations, or made one into guest accommodations.

Whatever you want

We’ve built structures used as surf storage, ADUs, pool houses or even just a personal space to escape (call it a she-shed or man cave if you want). And, we’re constantly surprised with the ideas our clients bring to us for what they want.

BUILT TO DREAM

Minimalist design to house your inspiration

Why we never call our structures ‘modern sheds’