Green House

This narrow house in a row of semi-detached Victorian houses in North London replaces an existing small singe storey studio. A successful planning appeal secured approval for a contemporary house, designed with sustainable principles on a restricted site. The street façade is clad in red brick to match the neighbours, while the side and rear are clad in Cembonit panels. The rear façade steps down towards the garden with a series of terraces and is largely glazed, in order to maximise the exposure to warming sunlight. Windows are triple-glazed, and a heat recovery unit and high levels of insulation have been used to radically reduce the energy required. On the ground floor the living space stretches from street to garden, while the upper levels are planned around central service spaces and a top lit staircase. The clean planning and careful use of materials and lighting create a perception of generosity and clarity within a confined location.