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George Bernard Shaw Invents a Writer’s Shed on a Lazy Susan

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The British literary lion George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) might seem like an unlikely uber green ecobuilding innovator, so here’s a surprise.

This writers hideout – a tiny shed in his garden – he brilliantly engineered to provide a variety of temperatures, that would be comfortable to write by, summer or winter, with no heating or cooling, as the seasons changed.

The lazy Susan had just been invented in 1917, to turn dishes in a cupboard.  He adapted the new idea so that his tiny writers hut could be easily spun around – to follow with the movement of the sun, in order to warm it in winter, and cool it in summer.

On short winter days, it would be turned towards the low Northern sun to soak up each warm ray. But during sultry British summers, it was turned so its back was towards the sun to make a cool retreat.
Because the windows are mostly just on one side, it acts as a passive solar heater in winter, facing the sun.  A much tinier window opposite just ensures light to write by.

When its hot, and the shed is turned so this window side is turned away from the sun, the little back window can be opened, letting a breeze through, and out the door.

Meet George Bernard Shaw, literary colossus – and truly innovative green builder.

Via Honest Architecture