gap house

about

Location: West Norwood

Completion: 2025

Client: Private

Proud Winner of the LABC Award-

London Best Individual New Home 2025

In collaboration with developer Spear, a newly built three-bedroom family home has been carefully inserted between two 1960s terraced houses on a sloping site. The design complements and offsets the existing brick walls, echoing the proportions of the gable spacing along the terrace to blend seamlessly into the streetscape.

The house steps down to accommodate the changing levels of the site, creating a practical solution that maximises space efficiency while maintaining a cohesive design.

Double-glazed aluminium windows are precisely aligned with the existing fenestration to preserve the rhythm of the terrace's design. The window frames are accented with natural clay hexagonal tiles, creating a minimalist, contemporary aesthetic that harmonises with the original architecture.

Continuous flight auger (CFA) piling has been used on the restricted site, with piles meticulously installed to ensure that the existing public sewage pipes remain undisturbed. New manholes have also been installed to facilitate future maintenance.

Responding to the site's topography and the terrace's characteristic stepped floor levels, the new home features a split-level interior layout. The front section comprises two storeys, while the rear extends to three storeys. The lower ground floor houses utility and kitchen-dining areas, while the ground floor includes an accessible bedroom, WC, and living spaces. The upper floor features bedrooms, bathrooms, and a walk-in wardrobe.

The design takes advantage of double-height spaces and exposed brick surfaces, filling the interiors with natural light and creating a warm, fresh, and spacious atmosphere.

The property is well-insulated, sustainably designed, and has achieved an EPC rating of A, with solar panels and air-source heat pumps replacing traditional gas heating to provide year-round comfort and energy efficiency.

Overall, the home thoughtfully integrates modern living, sustainability, and a sensitive response to the architectural context, ensuring harmony with its surroundings.

Photos by Richard Rothmore.