We were approached to create a light touch timber-framed house within the grounds of a locally listed Georgian House in Blackheath.
The client sought a contemporary design which respected the sensitive urban and natural setting, and afforded a degree of privacy to the residents from neighbouring properties.
Our approach was to arrange two single storey pavilions around a mature oak tree, connected by a link corridor.
Black stained English larch batons and a delicate metal datum are carefully arranged to create a rich texture which sits comfortably within its heritage setting.
Asymmetrical in plan, the pavilions are orientated to allow morning sun into bedrooms and evening light into living spaces.
Primarily inward-facing to avoid overlooking, windows frame views towards a central courtyard and the mature gardens beyond. Rooflights provide additional natural light, and solid openable door vents offer natural ventilation.
Solar panels on the roof capture energy and an air source heat pump feeds into the home’s heating system.
Completed in 2017, the home met RIBA 2025 targets for embodied carbon while the timber acts as a carbon sink for an estimated 39.4 tonnes of biogenic carbon – more than half the embodied carbon used on the project.
Oak Tree House has created a sensitive addition to the main Georgian residence, offering a sustainable home which respects it’s natural and urban setting.
Designed to leave no trace if removed, the structures are sat on screw piles which raise the building off the ground for simple disassembly and re-use.
