Coach House

East Dulwich, London 2019

New build development on a redundant triangular garage plot to provide a bookend to a residential terrace in East Dulwich reminiscent of a coach house. 

The unique location is next to a crossroads surrounded by narrowing plots, heavily overlooked by adjoining neighbours. The rhythm of the street is dominated by terraced houses and informs the massing of the new build proposal. The front elevation looks onto the main street through a large window lighting the inside of the building. Smaller, more discrete windows are carefully positioned to provide a consistently well-lit interior.

The sunken ground floor and double-height interior provide living and sleeping areas within a limited footprint. The interior spaces are oriented around the double-height living area and window, with functional areas located towards the rear. Joinery divides spaces, creating flexible spaces and maintaining visual connections. Panelling visually grounds the building beneath painted plaster, timber and brickwork finishes. The original brickwork end-of-terrace, now painted, provides additional texture. 

The protruding red brick façade, with its simple volume, is punctuated by a large arched window. The general form lends itself a utilitarian character reminiscent of a coach house or workshop. The distinctive protruding brickwork defines the building’s presence and provides detail and charm suitable for its location within a row of terraces. 

Structural Engineer: Matter

Photography: Fred Howarth