Our competition proposal for new-build housing on North London garage site responds to key site conditions - scale, grace and alignment of neighbouring ‘villa’ houses - and repairs street gaps.  Principal volumes are set to street building lines – allowing for light well space at the centre of the site to give double-aspect and passive ventilation to as many dwellings as possible.  Vertical access is loosely attached to the rear block overlooking the interior ‘pocket’ of the site.

Acknowledging the period character and features of the adjacent conservation area, the principal elevation to St John’s Grove is clad as if it was a garment’s outer ‘fabric’ – with dark tile rainscreen, while the inner facades are treated as the ‘lining’ with a blond wooden board finish to reflect light.

The ‘pockets’ of the proposal rise upwards from undercroft entrance yard to raised reflecting pool, from private terraces to the planted roofs. ‘Threads’ to access upper levels tie the two blocks together.

To provide communal space an ‘open-air room’ has been created as part of the roofscape. Otherwise, the effort has been made here to build on cumulative innovation – from participatory design to sustainability, rather than proposing a single piece of ‘hot’ technology.

Peabody Housing Association - Islington, London - competition 2014