Piers Morgan is used to causing a stir, but this time it’s not his opinions that have attracted attention — it’s the £18,000 office he’s installed in the garden of his London home.
Piers’s new garden globe is an insulated designer home office made by a company called Archipod, which, stated his planning application, will ‘provide a quiet, remote working space for Mr Morgan that is separate from the house’.
Since the pandemic started, garden rooms have seen a huge leap in sales; and no wonder — with millions of us now working from home, we’ve had to get creative when it comes to finding a place to work.
And as a garden room can boost the value of your property by between five and 15 per cent, it’s no wonder that ‘shoffices’, which do the job of both shed and office, are the latest must-have outdoor accessory.
The latest additions include space-age pods and orbs. Piers and other trend-setters want their shoffices to showcase its curves, with fancy architectural features.
Built onsite or ready-made, many of these outdoor offices don’t require planning permission as they’ve been craftily classified as caravans.
But with prices ranging from £3,000 to £35,000-plus, which of these escape pods give the most bang for your buck? Jenny Wood does some digging…
PIERS’S POD

Piers Morgan’s £18,000 pod, from Archipod.co.uk, featuring a porthole window, sunroof and ‘gull-wing’ door
Archipod, approx. £18k, Archipod.co.uk
Handbuilt by a man calling himself ‘The Podfather’ these feature a porthole window, sunroof and ‘gull-wing’ door.
The interior can be fitted out however you choose — Piers plumped for a bespoke walnut desk and curved steel and walnut shelves for his 3m wide, soundproofed version.
Top of the pods 5/5
Wow factor both inside and outside.
SCI-FI STYLE

A space-age caravan on stilts for a pricey £34,650, insulated with material made from recycled bottles
Anthropod Go! £34,650, Anthropods.co.uk
This quirky sanctuary is made of recycled bottles and is designed to look like a space-age caravan on stilts.
Each pod contains heating, electrics and lighting. There are also USB sockets for charging USB devices. It’s got everything you’ll need for home working.
Are you the top of all the pods
4/5 This is the ultimate office for gardening.
CABIN FEVER

An oval-shaped office with no electrics or lighting, but double-glazed doors, a porch and walls made from spruce ThermoWood, priced at £6,674
The Oval office, £6,674, Tuin.co.uk
An oval-shaped update to a summerhouse.
This is a fairly no-frills affair with no electrics or lighting; but it does have double-glazed doors, a porch and walls made from spruce ThermoWood, meaning it’s been heat-treated for strength and to resist humidity.
Are you the top of all the pods
2/5 More attractive than a typical shed.
BUDGET BUY

This garden camping pod by BRETA goes up in price from £2,682 to £4,150 on November 3
Garden camping pod BRETA, £2,682 until November 3, then £4,150, Quick-Garden.co.uk
For those wanting a pod but not at Piers’s price point, this bargain pine version may be the answer.
Although it lacks electricity, lighting, or heating, it does have French doors. You can also add paint and optional roof tiles in black, green, and red to make it more attractive.
Are you the top of all the pods
3/5 Basic, with bonus points for price
OVER A BARREL

This barrel office is priced at £4,967 and separates into two rooms, one with built-in benches and the other empty, to be filled with your own furniture
Barrel office, £4,967, Tuin.co.uk
This cylindrical cabin is separated into two rooms — one with built-in benches, the other empty, to be filled with your own furniture.
Delivered as a flatpack, it’s made of spruce and includes a double-glazed window and door, plus waterproof roof shingles.
Are you the top of all the pods
2/5 A fun shape, but no fancy extras.
STYLISH THAT IS STILL PERFECT

Award-winning and eco-friendly, these armadillo-like pods, at £33,360 each, are designed to be recycled at the end of their life
Armadilla pod, £33,360, Armadilla.co.uk
These pods, armadillo-like, are eco-friendly and have been awarded.
Luxuries include double glazing and electrical points, wall lighting, and an energy-efficient heat recuperation system that improves the air quality.
Are you the top of all the pods
5/5 Impressive eco features.
SHIP SHAPE

From £28,000, this garden hideout pods are built to order by a company with a history of building canal boats
Garden hideout pod, from £28,200, Gardenhideouts.co.uk
These wood-clad hideouts were built by a company that has a history of building canalboats.
They look just like upturned boats and have a porch, double glazing and plumbing.
Are you the top of all the pods
4/5 Clever space use
HIGH-TECH HAVEN

A high-tech tavern, A Room in the Garden, by Studio Ben Allen. It is controlled by a smartphone.

The room has total insulation, so it’s airtight. It also requires very little energy to heat.
‘A Room in the Garden’, £POA, Studio Ben Allen
The geometric cladding makes it look like a circus tent; but it’s surprisingly high tech.
Sprayed with insulation so that it’s airtight and needs little energy to heat, there’s underfloor heating, lighting and electrics which can be controlled using a smartphone.
Are you the top of all the pods
4/5 Geometric good looking.
THEY THINK IT’S ALL OVAL

This oval garden Summerhouse features UV-protected Windows and Doors, 2 tables, a 1200-watt Heater, LED lights, Bluetooth Audio with Built-In Speaker and an Electric Socket

John Lewis are selling the capsule, which resembles the London Eye, for £18,995
Oval garden summerhouse, £18,995, John Lewis
This glazed lozenge is similar to a London Eye capsule. It has UV-protected doors and windows, two tables and LED lights. Bluetooth audio with built in speaker and an electric socket.
Are you the top of all the pods
2/5 Beautiful, but maybe too exposed.
SHOFFICE ROMANCE

The Shoffice was inspired by a wood shaving.
Shoffice, £POA, Platform5architects.com
Inspired by a wood shaving, this design ‘unfurls to form a small terrace’.
The office features a cantilevered desk and rooflights. Electrics are also available. Storage areas on the sides and back are convenient for bikes and garden equipment.
Are you the top of all the pods
3/5 Stunning, yet large.
DOME HOME

HypeDome from Cuckooland.com is priced at £2,795 and is commonly used by swanky restaurants for sheltered outdoor dining
HypeDome, £2,795, Cuckooland.com
These domes, which are often used in fancy restaurants for sheltered outdoor dining are made up more than 100 tough hexagonal glasses-like recyclable panels. They are designed to blur lines between indoors and outside.
Are you the top of all the pods
1/5 For nature lovers or exhibitionists.