Pocket House

A new family home on a south London micro-site that turns constraints into opportunities to deliver a finely crafted building full of warmth and delight.

Built on the site of a double garage, the aim of the project was to deliver a family home uncompromised by the site's physical restrictions.
Through extensive testing and detailing we turned the limitations of the site into opportunities for daylight, detail and craftsmanship.
    An upside-down plan was designed to place the living spaces at the top of the house to maximise light and views, whilst the more private rooms are located around a basement courtyard.
    Working with a team of specialists, we undertook complex structural works to unlock the below ground potential.
    A new sunken courtyard is created and daylight is allowed to penetrate deep into the plan.
      Above ground a veil of fine timber wraps the living and dining volumes, offering privacy and solar shading.
        Internal spaces are enriched by a tension between delicate joinery and the mass of the exposed brick and concrete structure.
            Hidden doors and carefully curated views give the spaces a generosity larger than their size would suggest.
            Everyday domestic activities are turned into opportunities for elegant design solutions.

            Technical Description

            Status: Completed 2018
            Type: 2-bedroom house set over 3 floors
            Gross internal area: 100 sqm
            Construction Cost: Confidential
            Client, Architect & Main Contractor: Tikari Works
            Specialist Basement Contractor: Patterson Construction
            Kitchen Fabricator: Uncommon Projects
            Structural Engineer: Built Engineers
            Mechanical & Electrical Engineer: SGA
            Photography: Edmund Sumner
            Detailed kitchen photography: Jocelyn Low