Stood astride an existing London stock brick wall and incorporating a range of brick bonding styles, including a unique vertically-bonded structural wall, Southwark Brick House in Bermondsey is a showcase for this highly versatile building material. The newbuild three-bedroom house, designed and project-managed by Satish Jassal Architects, comprises two floors and a basement level spread across two brick wings accessed via a central staircase.
© Richard Chivers
Bedrooms in the one and half-storey basement are illuminated by a linear light well; kitchen and dining areas on the ground floor feature external terraces. Living areas on the first floor are brightly lit by an elegant coffered timber ceiling and large bay windows that capture views down the tree-lined street. © Richard Chivers
The end of the terrace property is positioned on the site of a former car garage, in Thorburn Square conservation area, a residential neighborhood typical of Southwark, characterized by historic terraces and more modern apartments.  The design aims to reconcile the sensitive location with the brief to deliver an elegant and spacious contemporary family home.
© Richard Chivers
Proximity to neighboring properties and gardens informed the decision to sink the building into the ground, lowering the ground floor level by one meter. The building line is pulled back from the street edge and the lower portion of the house is hidden behind the historic boundary wall, which was retained and underpi...