Palmwood House in London by Undercurrent Architects

Palmwood House is a prototype building for problematic urban sites; a small, triangular infill lot severely constrained by height restrictions, acute boundaries, failed development plans and conservation controls. The design works with a gradation of spaces, views and daylight to achieve an extensive living experience despite its restricted volume.

Palmwood House - Photograph by David Butler

• Architect: Undercurrent Architects
• Project architect: Didier Ryan
• Location: London, UK
• Photographer: David Butler www.dnbutler.com
• Awards: London Design Award, Wandsworth Borough 2009‐10

Palmwood House - Photograph by David Butler

The building is located in London’s riverside district of Battersea, on a triangular plot at the oblique intersection of two streets. The floor plan is split into three areas on the ground floor: an open living/kitchen/dining, a bedroom, and a walled courtyard. Above is another bedroom and a roof terrace that overlooks the courtyard. Natural light is brought inside via the courtyard and terrace, small openings on the street, and skylights to the ground‐floor bedroom and stair.

Interior - Photograph by David Butler

The building minimises its sense of containment without compromising the high degree of privacy and introspection that provides respite in tight urban living conditions. It is chamfered and cutback, punctured by vertical light, oblique views and shared vistas, breaking the site confines and absorbing the surroundings.

Interior - Photograph by David Butler

This house looks for opportunities in the constraints and takes advantage of every square inch of floor space. Beyond working with the site’s limitations to develop a design with a gradation of spaces, views and daylight, the design utilises unique material applications to help the building stand out even when dwarfed by its neighbours as well as sustainable practices (brownfield regeneration, low energy, reused materials, advanced building systems) so the building’s ecological footprint reflects its small physical one.

Stairs - Photograph by David Butler

Tags: London, UK

Category: House

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