A 12-year-old girl from Surrey, England, gave her father £500 from her savings and asked him to build a house shaped like a mushroom in their back garden. Her father, Ben Swanborough, took up the challenge and built a two-storey wooden hideaway with a trapdoor, stained-glass windows and a glass floor overlooking a stream. The unusual structure later won the overall title in the 2017 Cuprinol Shed of the Year competition.The Mushroom Shed, also known as the Mushroom House, was selected from a record 2,963 entries in the tenth edition of the annual competition, as per the information on Shedblog. The event attracted 26,571 public votes, with the final winner announced by George Clarke during Channel 4’s Amazing Spaces Shed of the Yearprogramme.What began as a request from Swanborough’s daughter eventually became a place where the family could spend time together and entertain friends. The handmade structure included several unusual features, from a hidden shelf for treats to a glass roof that allowed visitors to look at the stars.Swanborough’s creation first won the Cabin and Summerhouse category before competing against seven other category winners for the overall title. The judges ultimately chose the Mushroom Shed, recognising both its design and the effort Swanborough had put into building it for his daughter.
A look inside the shed
The Mushroom Shed was designed to resemble a mushroom, with a narrow lower section forming the stem and a wider upper section representing its cap.The lower level contains a small desk area and steps leading to the upper floor. Visitors reach the top section through a trapdoor, which opens into a vintage-inspired living space.The upper floor includes stained-glass windows, a balcony and a glass floor through which visitors can look down towards the stream at the bottom of the garden. A glass roof also allows people inside to see the sky and stars. Another feature is a concealed shelf for treats.
Visitors reach the top section through a trapdoor, which opens into a vintage-inspired living space
The 2017 competition
The Mushroom Shed faced competition from seven other category winners, each offering a different approach to using a garden structure.Among them was Pricklebums, a converted summerhouse in Ludlow used to care for sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs. Owned by Ailie Hill, the small structure could accommodate up to 22 hedgehogs during treatment and rehabilitation.Another contender was Team Unlimbited, a workshop in Swansea where Stephen Davies designed and produced 3D-printed artificial hands and arms for children free of charge.The finalists also included an underground bunker in Lincolnshire, a fire station-themed entertainment shed in Hampshire and a mobile 1940s police station display from Cambridgeshire.Despite the variety of entries, Swanborough’s project stood out for its design and the personal story behind its construction.Andrew Wilcox, one of the judges explained why they selected it, saying, “The bar was set really high this year, from entire train carriages to a miniature chapel and a replica cinema. With strong contenders winning all eight category awards it was a really tough decision for me and my fellow judges. Ben’s dedication to his daughter and the quirky design details he created really stood out above the rest and he thoroughly deserves the title.”
The winning prize
As the overall winner, Swanborough received £1,000 from competition sponsor Cuprinol, along with £100 worth of Cuprinol products, a winner’s plaque and a giant crown for the shed.Speaking after the announcement, Swanborough said the family had never expected their project to receive national recognition.“When we started the project we never could have dreamed we’d be here now. We’ve already made so many lovely memories in our shed, and now have so many more from the competition! There were so many innovative and amazing sheds in the running, and we’re absolutely thrilled to have been crowned Shed of the Year 2017.”Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director at Cuprinol, also praised the project and the idea behind it. “Ben has proved that you just need a little motivation and vision to create a truly stunning space at the bottom of your garden. His shed was definitely a worthy winner for the competition’s landmark year.”
