Plans for ‘dream’ granny flat pod in Sydney – versatile 4m x 7.5m

We’re often asked: “Do you have some completed backyard pods we could look at in Sydney?”

The answer, theoretically, is “yes” as there are completed backyard pods all over the place in NSW, VIC, and QLD – home offices, teenage retreats, hobby workshops, granny flats, even whole houses put together using our pods.

In practical terms, however, the answer has been “no” because most happy pod owners/occupiers are not happy to have any prospective pod-buyers traipsing through their private workspaces and treasured tiny homes.

Sydney demo pod solution always on the horizon

We’re always aiming to have our own Sydney demo pod completed and available for viewings. Just like our Sydney customers, we can’t wait to see this beautiful pod completed.

How are we managing this, given the price of land in Sydney?

The solution was actually right in front of us all along. It’s an outside-the-square idea but one that people wanting their own ‘tiny house’, without their own land, might want to think about as well.

One of our team has a long-standing friend who owns their own home in Western Sydney, with a reasonable-sized backyard. This friend offered us the opportunity of building our own pod on their land, with some agreements in place as to what would happen to the pod should either party get ‘hit by a bus’ or whatever. Sweet. It’s just a matter of getting approval and having the hefty budget for the extensive excavations and retaining wall required.

Fully self-contained, versatile interior layout

Sure, this pod, if ever completed, will be used for our company ‘demo’ purposes, so the interior is intended as somewhere to discuss needs with customers, and demonstrate the potential for fit-out and cabinetry. For this reason, we won’t have a permanent bed in there, but a sofa bed will show people how quickly the living area can convert to a bedroom. It would be easy to reconfigure this same general layout to feature a bed, sofa, dining setting and/or desk.

Although quite compact at 4m x 7.5m (custom-cut length to suit the land), this pod will be designed as fully self-contained and suitable (in principle) for renting out as a granny flat with its own separate entrance. Yep, here are some of the great features:

• Full kitchen with full-size fridge; full-height pantry cupboard; integrated dishwasher; integrated cooktop/oven, microwave, and range hood; integrated waste/recycling bins
• Bar stools and high table which also works as extra bench space, or stand-up desk
• Bathroom with spacious walk-in shower, vanity with ample storage, toilet
• Utility cupboard with space for linen, cleaning tools, and Euro laundry (hidden washing machine/dryer)
• Full built-in wardrobe 2m in length with space-saving sliding doors; integrated hanging, drawers, storage
• Flexible open-plan layout configured as either home office or garden apartment

Of course, even in Sydney, a granny flat concept like this needs proper approval but this is quite easy with our pods being certified as a Class 1 habitable dwelling and the NSW fast-track granny flat approval process. Read more about granny flat approvals.

Exterior planning

The Colorbond colour we’ve chosen for the exterior is “Monument”, a contemporary darkish grey. We will use double-glazed Polar Eco-View windows with black frames, some in frosted glass to allow maximum natural light and ventilation without sacrificing privacy.

Out front, we’ll use one of our new deck/veranda kits, standard 1.5m-wide and running almost the whole length of the pod. Polar Eco-View external screens will be installed at one end of the deck to demonstrate how outdoor privacy can be achieved in small yards.

If we ever get started, we promise to give updates on progress and how we’re achieving our own pod dreams, for how much. Stay tuned.