It’s a family affair at this concrete home in Brockley, south-east London
“If we had not found this particular plot of land we wouldn’t have had the idea to build rather than buy,” said Grace, when we visited her and Hugo at home. But given Hugo’s skill set, the pair decided to press go. The plot, which sits on the border of Brockley and Crofton Park – appealingly close to local gems, such as the Rivoli Ballroom and Hilly Fields – came with little more than a simple sketch as part of planning permission, so they were able to draw up a design that was completely their own. “It took us a year to get the design in place,” Hugo told us. “We completely redesigned the layout.” Their work surely paid off: in 2021, the house was shortlisted for the Architects’ Journal Small Projects Award and the Manser Medal House of the Year.
Paying homage to the period homes on the street, the exterior has been built in London stock brick to a shape that mimics a quintessential Victorian end-of-terrace house. It includes a contemporary interpretation of bay windows, for instance, as well as concrete details that nod to classic 19th-century details. But inside, it’s a thoroughly modern story: there are no narrow corridors here – instead, the downstairs kitchen, dining and living area is completely open plan, with plenty of space to host loved ones. It scores green points too, performing as well as Passivhaus energy-consumption standards, due to extensive airtight insulation and its fibre-reinforced concrete frame.
While we’re on the subject of concrete, the material has been generously used throughout the interior, cast to form monolithic walls, ceilings and worktops. But fear not – this home feels far from utilitarian and cold: a pretty granite terrazzo, which has been poured across the floor in the main living area, adds plenty of more personality, while timber joinery brings warmth. There are playful quirks that soften the space too, such as a clever nook under the stairs for four-legged friends to hide in. “On one hand there is this architectural rigour, but it’s also a comfortable, functioning house that absorbs people and dogs and mess incredibly well,” Grace put it. “It’s not a concrete manifesto. It’s a home.”
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