MortonScarr visited this vacant site in the Gipsy Hill area of South London in 2015 to discuss options for the development potential. The site was formally a tile showroom with warehouse facilities and is a challenging triangular shape, with all three sides of the triangle directly impacting existing residential buildings.

A series of massing studies, sun path studies and diagrams resulted in a building mass which wraps around the street boundary and steps in and out to the rear. The front elevation helps the site turn a corner around the road with curved brickwork and glazed sections at each floor. Street scene analysis and studies of fenestration patterns helped create a proposal which sits well within the street and positively responds to the neighbouring villa buildings and large Victorian school building opposite.

Planning approval was obtained for the site for 7 large apartments above a retail unit. Each flat has private balcony space and has been designed to be dual aspect. Maisonette apartments to the top two floors create dramatic living spaces and a penthouse feel with separate living / bedroom zones split over the floors.

Rear windows and balconies have been carved out of the building form and screened with timber to prevent overlooking to the close-by neighbours. The retail unit created at ground floor has been designed with a BREEAM Very Good rating.

MortonScarr were appointed throughout the project from the initial concept proposals through to the completion on site.