SYDENHAM PLACE

Can a former commercial site be transformed into high-quality family homes?

This project redevelops backland land in South London, to create two three-storey, three-bedroom family homes. Both dwellings are designed with dual-aspect layouts to maximise natural light and exceed national space standards. Each home benefits from private rear gardens and central courtyards that bring daylight deep into the plan, while small front spaces accommodate refuse and cycle storage without compromising usability.

The site was previously occupied by an auction house and sits within a mixed residential and commercial area. The design carefully responds to its context, aligning with surrounding two- to three-storey developments and maintaining a sensitive scale, massing and separation from neighbouring properties. Roofs are pitched with gables facing the street, referencing local architectural forms, while setbacks at upper floors reduce visual bulk and preserve daylight to neighbouring homes.

The houses are constructed with high-quality brick, reflecting the local material palette, and detailed to integrate contemporary elements that complement the evolving character of the area. Front boundary treatments create a positive relationship with the street, while rear and central courtyards provide practical and pleasant external spaces.