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Quad developed this house as a speculative venture, with an interest in seeing if a modern house could sit comfortably in a suburban street.

The setting is a corner plot surrounded by tall mature trees and close to the River Thames. The architect’s belief was that if these factors could be successfully integrated into a design that would achieve planning approval, the resulting house would have a wide public appeal and therefore sell quickly and at a premium price. This approach was strongly supported by the planners.

The design explored the desire to separate the structure of the house from its external walls and internal partitions, as a means of freeing up internal arrangements. We also sought a new roof form that would be recognisably modern but could be used in a suburban context without appearing either aggressive or bland in relation to its neighbours. Materials were chosen to include both smooth (steel frame) and rough (stock bricks) textures, and both hard (steel, glass) and soft (lead roof, oak joinery) characteristics, combined in a layered manner that would add contrast and depth and light and shade to the design.

The disposition of surrounding houses and the shape of the site led to a simple rectangular plan form, (located close to the north and west boundaries with garden areas to the east and south) consisting of two 6m x 9m rectangles. The first rectangle is two storeys in height and is adjacent to the neighbouring large Victorian house, the second being a single storey living area facing the garden. Internally, the principal rooms express the roof shape, adding volume to the living room and, by virtue of a curved oak strip ceiling, sensuality and warmth to the two bedrooms.

A calm entrance forecourt with an Iroko pathway, black bamboo planting and a concrete ‘diving board’ fountain floating above a raked limestone garden help to reinforce the connection between the house and its setting.