In a world where garden space comes at a premium, Mike Robinson proved that size doesn’t matter when innovation takes center stage. The Plumstead engineer’s creation, aptly named “The Tiny Workshop,” has just claimed the coveted Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2025 title, demonstrating that brilliant design can triumph over grand scale.
Robinson’s journey began with a familiar problem: his compact courtyard garden needed storage and workspace, but conventional shed solutions would overwhelm the limited area. “We needed a good bit of storage for the garden necessities,” Robinson explained. “Off-the-shelf options would have taken up too much room, so I went with a DIY design and build.”
Designer: Mike Robinson
The solution he crafted over several weekends defies traditional shed expectations. Starting with two sets of heavy-duty steel shelving, Robinson bolted them together and clad the structure in wood painted with black ash outdoor paint. What emerged was a marvel of compact engineering that judges described as “ingenious” and “like nothing we’ve seen before in competition history.”
The Tiny Workshop’s genius lies in its multifunctional design. Two ingenious flaps transform the unit’s usability—one drops down to create a work floor, while another flips up to provide weather protection. Inside, Robinson has maximized every inch with carefully planned drawers, shelves, and hooks that keep tools organized and accessible. Even the brackets holding old spanner handles were custom-designed using a 3D printer, providing both function and visual clues to the contents within.
Perhaps most impressively, the structure features a living green roof that stores garden tools while creating habitat for wildlife. “The green roof will come into its own in the next year or so,” Robinson noted, “and I’m looking forward to seeing it come to life—the shed really is the gift that keeps on giving.”The workshop serves as a triple-duty toolshed, creative workspace, and storage solution for everything from garden necessities to children’s games.
Robinson describes it as “a creative space where I can tinker and mend,” embodying the traditional shed’s role while pushing boundaries of what’s possible in minimal space. Head judge Andrew Wilcox praised the design’s return to practical roots: “Traditionally, sheds have just been seen as somewhere to store your tools, or perhaps somewhere to potter and play—The Tiny Workshop takes this seemingly basic concept and turns it into something so inspired but also still very practical.” The £1,000 prize recognizes more than clever carpentry; it celebrates the democratization of good design. In an era of increasing housing density and shrinking gardens, Robinson’s creation offers hope that thoughtful planning can maximize utility without sacrificing aesthetics or function.
