Architect Hugh Strange on building a contemporary family home and studio on the site of an old pub yard in Deptford, southeast London

It was always architect Hugh Strange’s dream to build his own home – so when the chance to purchase a derelict pub yard at the back of his Deptford flat presented itself, he snapped it up. Making smart use of the small spot and a simple material palette of timber, concrete and glass, Hugh designed an environmentally minded studio and single-storey home for himself and his growing family, which was completed in 2010.

The live-work space unfolds over the ground floor of the original Victorian terrace, opening onto a private courtyard garden and the new single-storey house beyond. The award-winning design excels in the use of timber; there are cross-laminated spruce panels pre-cut to size in a Swiss factory, which sit in pleasing contrast against tropical hardwood from Nicaragua, used for the bespoke furniture and fittings. An L-shaped external terrace between the house and the original brick perimeter wall provides tranquil outdoor space.

As his family outgrows the space, Hugh walks us through his home and looks forward to the next chapter. Check out the listing here

Hugh: “I bought the house at the front of the Evelyn Street site with a friend back in 2001, and we divided it into two flats. I later bought the land at the back and designed the new house there, which was built in 2010. This, and the ground floor of the Victorian building, now form a single dwelling.

“Most architects harbour the desire to build their own house. For me, it was an opportunity to house our young family but it was also an opportunity to set my stall out and design something I really believed in. The size of the plot was a constraint but I used this as creative fodder and as a result, the house seems much bigger than it actually is. It very much feels like a secret oasis of calm, hidden away from the busy city outside. It’s very peaceful, and you’re always close to natural light and greenery.

“The new house is single-storey, with external space around and between it, and the accommodation to the front. The internal and external spaces are very connected. For much of the year, we open up the doors and live both inside the house and in the outdoor spaces in a very fluid way. There’s a slightly meandering quality between the two. It’s quite unlike traditional British living.

“The house unfolds over the ground floor of the original period terrace, opening onto a private courtyard garden and the new house beyond. During lockdown, this configuration was a godsend. Running a small business and having a young family, the proximity of a separate but related space was amazing and really allowed for the separation of work and life. It meant that we could both work from home but still have some distance between work and the family.

“The house is designed with environmental concerns very much in mind. It uses a mass timber construction, employs an exhaust air heat pump, has excellent insulation, underfloor heating and solar panels in order to minimise energy use.

“The interior of the house has two timbers. The cross-laminated timber, which is visible, has been white-washed and forms the structure of the house. The darker tropical hardwood is from Nicaragua. I have a friend who emigrated there a long time ago and has a timber company. All of the windows and doors, plus the benches and the double bed, are made out of this lovely timber, sourced from them, using traditional joinery skills. The whole house is quite tailor-made, it’s all very carefully considered. A polished concrete floor runs throughout.

“The large freestanding dining table was designed by me at the same time I designed the house. The top is built out of a single piece of hardwood. At a later stage, as our children grew up, we also designed a bunk bed that was purpose-made for the children’s bedroom.

“The inside of the house is very light, but because of the material palette and the depth to the window mullions and structure, it is a very gentle light that infuses the interior. The main space of the house gets light from four directions, so you are very aware of the changing light through the day.

“Deptford is a vibrant area that is well connected to the centre of London. There’s a strong artist community and lots of studios and good galleries like the APT on Creekside. The large Vietnamese community means that there are many great Vietnamese restaurants nearby, including Eat Vietnam. There are also good traditional pubs, such as The Dog & Bell, stylish restaurants like Marcella on the high street, and local cafes. We like Café Hönle, which is in nearby Folkestone Gardens.

“It’s going to be very difficult leaving the house. It’s been a fantastic home for us and amazing to bring our children up here. We will miss it very much. We’re moving nearby as we’re ready for another chapter and needed a little more space for the children as they grow older.

“At our stage in life, with young children and running a small business, the way the house is set up has been perfect, and I can imagine people living in it in a very similar way. But I can also imagine it being really adaptable to other ways of living. I hope that the non-typical, but very flexible arrangement, supports the next owners in their lives, while the architecture might provide some peace.”

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