Pigeon coop becomes a playhouse

This pigeon coop, after its conversion to a playhouse.

Christina Schmidhoffer

This pigeon coop had been abandoned long ago, and it was falling to the ground. But it sits at the end of the lawn and screens a view of the neighbors’ yards. The family wanted a play area for the kids, so it made sense to save it.

There’s room to draw on a chalkboard, or play at a kidsize table.

Christina Schmidhoffer

There’s room inside to relax on a daybed with a book. The owners see the playhouse as a a building that will grow with them. Later on, they might make it a studio, office, or a guest house.

Christina Schmidhoffer

Architects Geoffrey Holton and Matt Gilroy helped a young family convert a backyard greenhouse and aviary into a kids’ play structure.

“This building had been abandoned long ago, and it was falling to the ground,” says Holton.

But “the structure sits at the end of the lawn. It screens a view of the neighbors’ yards and balances the house. The family wanted a play area for the kids, so it made sense to save it.”

The architects opened up the building by adding a large window, a skylight, and a pair of French doors. Walls and the concrete floor were repaired and cleaned.

Now the children use it as play headquarters.

“It’s great because they can play in the backyard and run in and out of the building,” says the owner. “

We think it’s a building that will grow with us. Later on, we might make it a studio, office, or a guest house.”

DESIGN: Matthew Gilroy and Geoffrey Holton, Geoffrey Holton and Associates, Oakland (510/663-9797)

Next: More inspiring backyard sheds and cottages

Pigeon coop becomes a playhouse

Backyard before and after: See how one family turned a pigeon coop into a playhouse|Story by Mary Jo Bowling