Presented with a narrow street frontage on a steeply sloping site, we were asked to design a new contemporary home for our client. As a former garage between two banks of terraced housing, our brief was to respond positively to the established Victorian character whilst making the most of this under utilised gap site.

An analysis of the materials and proportions of neighbouring properties formed the basis of our architectural response. We identified that bay windows were the most prominent feature, defining the rhythm of the street as they stepped down in line with the sloping site. Our proposals mimicked the proportions of adjoining terraces within the confines of our narrow plot, utilising red brick and matching mortar to create a monolithic and contemporary addition to the street. To preserve the rhythm of the existing street pattern, we created a prominent bay window within the principal façade, which incorporated a small but intensively planted green roof. The constrained site width meant that the bay window filled the entire elevation. In response, we recessed the front door into the bay, providing important defensible space for new residents whilst maintaining the harmony of the wider street scene.

Our scheme was granted consent and creates an attractive and efficiently planned home, making best use of a constrained and complex brownfield site.