Shed of the Year 2014: Eco-friendly artist studio is Britain's best shed

AN ENVIRONMENTALLY friendly garden shack – with a bath on its grass-covered roof – has been crowned as Britain's best shed.

Joel Bird is pictured with his allotment-covered, award-winning shed, plaque and giant crownJoel Bird is pictured with his allotment-covered, award-winning shed, plaque and giant crown [CUPRINOL]

Joel Bird, 39, designed his award-winning solar-powered shed to grow potatoes, courgettes, leaks, beetroot, onions, carrots, strawberries and a variety of other veg on its allotment roof.

The green-fingered shed was a budget construction that provided its owner with a "mini countryside" designed to keep him "sane in a city".

Built from the ground up using a multitude of recycled materials, Mr Bird – an artist from Tottenham, in North London – split the space inside of the shed to house a painting and music studio.

The prize-winning shed – which has a tin bath placed on its roof so that Mr Bird can cool-off after a sweaty day of summer gardening – cost a mere £500 to construct.

The budget-build saw off over 2,000 other elaborate and unusual entries in this year's Cuprinol Shed of the Year competition.

Wacky runners-up in the annual contest included a disco shed, cinema, pub, Tardis and Caribbean-style retreat – all far removed from the traditional image of the humble garden shed.

The allotment-covered shed keeps owner Joel amongst the industrial hustle and bustle of city life The allotment-covered shed keeps owner Joel amongst the industrial hustle and bustle of city life [CUPRINOL]

Sheds are no longer just places for men to escape to. They are transforming the way people live their lives and subsequently how they see themselves

Joel Bird, competition winner

Competition winner Mr Bird explained: "I began building my shed five years ago and just had a grass roof but around a year ago I added the allotment, which is what makes my shed most special.

"I am up there every single day. When I am not sitting or gardening up there I am working in the shed. I actually spend more time on or in the shed than in the house.

"The lights are powered by a solar panel; I use a wood burner to heat it; and then there is the allotment roof.

"It's easy to access with a little staircase and I have a little tin bath up there for a summer soak.

"It has been amazing being up there this summer with all the good weather. It's a little mini countryside which keeps me sane in a city.

"Sheds are no longer just places for men to escape to. They are transforming the way people live their lives and subsequently how they see themselves".

The shed was built using old aluminium doors and windows – left as spares during renovations to his home – and old carpet, tyres and pallets providing other shed-furnishings.

Mr Bird has been awarded a £1,000 cash prize by competition organisers – leaving him with £500 profit – along with a giant crown and winner's plaque for his eco-minded garden shed.

The allotment-roofed entry had previously won the contest's 'eco shed' category before being named the overall best shed ahead of seven other category winners.

"It's an incredible honour for my shed to be crowned Cuprinol's 2014 Shed of the Year," said Mr Bird

"I'm hoping to use the award to promote the benefits of a more sustainable life"

The mobile Disco shed has proved very popular at large music festivals and weddings The mobile Disco shed has proved very popular at large music festivals and weddings [CUPRINOL]

Winning the 'normal shed' category was a disk jockey themed design furnished with its own smoke machine, disco ball, record decks and party-conducive lighting.

It is creation of music-enthusiasts and Cotswolds DJs Paddy Bickerton and Aidan Larkin, both 35, who take their mobile 'Disco Shed' to play festivals such as Glastonbury, Latitude and the Big Chill as well as at weddings.

Film lover Paul Slim, 37, of Stourbridge, West Midlands, was awarded the 'unique shed' category after converting a humble garden hut into a 20-seat cinema after his girlfriend complained about his 3,000 strong DVD collection cluttering the house.

His solution: A 'Reelwood' shed that boasts a eye-watering 119-inch screen, 3D projector and full surround sound system.

The shed also sports a mini-foyer that allows Paul to serve hot snacks and cold drinks to movie-loving friends.

Head judge Andrew Wilcox said: "This year's competition has been the best yet with a record breaking number of entries.

"People are embracing the fascinating world of sheds like never before".

The Appleton Arms shed landlord Mark Appleton, from Merseyside,  with his plaque naming him the winner of the Pub category of the 2014 Shed of the Year The Appleton Arms shed landlord Mark Appleton, from Merseyside, winner of the Pub category [CUPRINOL]

Mark Appleton, 52, of St Helens, Merseyside, snapped up the award for best 'pub shed'.

His 'Appleton Arms' is filled with a traditional hand-crafted, wooden bar with real pub signage, a dart board and cosy wood-burning stove.

And finally the 'garden office shed' category was won by Jamie Dix, 33, and Gemma Mitchell, 35, both of Bedford for their 'The Little Thatch' creation.

The Little Thatch shed owned by Gemma and Jamie Dix, from Bedford The Little Thatch shed owned by Gemma and Jamie Dix, from Bedford [CUPRINOL]

Their picturesque shed has a beautiful thatched roof, exposed oak beams and bunk beds for their children.

All of the weird and wonderful, spacious and luxurious entries were shown on Channel 4, during last night's final episode of Amazing Spaces Shed of the Year.

Presenter George Clarke said: "The nation's love for transforming their garden shed into an extension of the home is really trending right now.

"The TV show highlighted some of the most creative, beautiful and unusual sheds in the country, as well as allowing me to meet incredible people – like Joel [Bird, the competition winner] – who are so enthusiastic about what they do."

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