The extreme simplicity of the ancient shinmei-zukuri style of Japanese architecture inspired Glenn Montgomery’s 9-ft. by 12-ft. shed. The winning entry in our “Show Us Your Sheds” online gallery contest, this shed is based on the design of Japan’s Ise Grand Shrine.

Montgomery built much of the shed from reclaimed materials. These included 6×16 old-growth timbers salvaged during a renovation of Denver’s original Neusteter’s department store and semi-rotten 2×6 decking that Montgomery culled, denailed, ripped, and rabbeted to create the redwood siding. The steel platform was salvaged from commercial-foundation lagging, and the joists are repurposed Unistrut rescued from job-site roll-off containers. New corrugated galvanized roofing, glazing, fasteners, and some steel plate rounded out Montgomery’s materials list.

Early in the shed’s design phase, Montgomery decided that the large overhang would make a good shelter for new finds that were destined for his shed and, once that was completed, future projects. With each load of salvaged materials, Montgomery reassures his patient wife, Debbie, that he will “build something with it someday.” But as everyone knows, job-site salvage can’t just be taken home and reused immediately. It must be seasoned for at least five years.

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