Perforated House, London
Perforated House sits within the Hollies Way Estate, an ex local authority housing complex built in the 1960s, located within the London Borough of Wandsworth, UK.
The project has involved the full retrofit and careful refurbishment of this unloved ex-council dwelling, which had deteriorated to a poor condition. The existing property suffered badly from issues of damp and mould brought about by poor ventilation and these problems were exacerbated by a lack of insulation, ineffective services as well as minimal access to natural light.
Addressing these issues was of fundamental importance, and the ambition of the project was to give new life to a decrepit, unkept structure and recognise its possibilities, rather than simply demolishing it and starting again. The need to improve airflow led to us developing the design for a celebratory new street-facing elevation where perforated brickwork is carefully composed and layered with glazing to provide screened openings and therefore opportunities for secure ventilation so that the building can always breathe.
In doing so the composition of brickwork, with the perforated beds laid facing outwards, defines an architectural language that provides a renewed dignified face towards the street. It also provides a veiled threshold between the flexible layout of the interior and a newly created private outdoor courtyard with soft planting and seating areas.
Another important strategic design move has been to relocate the entrance to the other side of the dwelling in order to provide a private front door accessed directly from the street. This facilitates an improved feeling of ownership for its occupants as well as a more practical entrance sequence, where the perforated decorative brickwork provides an important sense of character and rhythm.
The property has been renovated throughout, with a contemporary interior material palette influenced by the mid-century era in which the estate was constructed. It has been reconfigured to provide a more flexible and usable layout.
The property has benefitted from improved insulation and services, as well as considered upgrades to the building fabric which significantly reduce energy consumption. Comparing before and after, CO2 emissions are calculated to have been reduced by 72% (56.27 kgCO2/m2).
Through the unusual and innovative use of perforated brickwork, the refurbishment works will not only significantly improve the quality of life of the building’s occupants, they will also safeguard the existing structure so it may now provide a high quality living environment for decades to come.
The project has been Shortlisted for the Brick Awards 2023 in both the ‘Innovation’ and ‘Individual Housing Development’ categories. The award celebrates the best brick architecture projects across the world.
Project Team
Architects / Novak Hiles Architects
Client / Bramfield Studio
Main Contractor / Krzysztof Gorkiewicz
Structural Engineer / Structures Made Easy
Planting Design / Bramfield Studio
Photography / Marcus Peel and The Modern House
Awards
Shortlisted / Don’t Move, Improve! Awards 2024
Shortlisted / Brick Awards 2023 / ‘Innovation’ category
Shortlisted / Brick Awards 2023 / ‘Individual Housing Development’ category
