Architect: Jack Woolley

Structural Engineer : Momentum

Completion: May 2013

Project Summary

A new house built on a derelict site that had once been the garden of an end of terrace Victorian house.

A memory of the site’s history is worked into the elevations by preserving the height and line of the original boundary; this also protects an important long view across the site from the street. A hinging section of the street wall leads to a courtyard bounded with curving walls intended to draw visitors into the space. The house itself is entered from the courtyard.

The living area is arranged over a split level to allow a degree of separation within a connected space. The basement spaces are arranged to give a sense of perceived distance between parts of the house to counter the compactness of the actual volume.

High ceilings create a sense of spaciousness. Roof lights provide daylight. Sunlight can pass through a glazed slice that cuts the roof and wall of the lower ground floor to reach a basement roof light. The inside face of the street gate is reflective to bounce more daylight into the basement. Glazed internal openings play a similar role.

Internal walls are pale plaster and white timber paneling. Floors are polished concrete with under-floor heating. The planting and hard landscaping on the roofs are designed to give an attractive outlook to neighbours.

Ground granulated blast-furnace slag concrete was used for the structure. The envelope is insulated with Icynene closed cell foam to ensure an air tight vapour impermeable envelope and ventilated using a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system.