Hilversum Crescent
London SE22

SOLD

Architect: F.O. Hayes

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“Sun pours into the main living spaces throughout the day through floor-to-ceiling doors”

This light-filled two-bedroom terraced house was designed in the 1960s by architect F.O. Hayes for the award-winning Dutch Estate in Dulwich. It has a private south-facing garden and has recently been renovated by the owner, who has carefully preserved its modernist features while sensitively introducing contemporary touches. For more information on the Dulwich Estate, see the History section below.

The Tour

Positioned on Hilversum Crescent, a quiet crescent away from the main road, the houses on the estate have a private and tranquil atmosphere. This house retains many of its defining modernist features while benefitting from the introduction of considered contemporary touches, resulting in a bright and airy space that is perfect for modern living.

Entry is to a spacious hallway with plenty of storage, which leads to the open-plan living/dining area. Floor-to-ceiling doors at the rear of the plan flood the space with light and open directly onto the south-facing garden. A set of large windows further illuminates the dining area. A simple palette of white walls and engineered ash flooring has been employed, creating a sense of calm throughout; this sense of serenity is continued in the kitchen where warm wooden worktops chime with pale blue tiles and cream units. Quite typically of the era, the dining space is connected to the kitchen via a useful serving hatch.

A staircase complete with its original bannisters ascends to the first floor, where there are two bedrooms and a bathroom. The hallway and landing are bathed in light from above via a series of fan lights. The peaceful bedrooms are situated at the rear of the plan; both rooms have original floorboards that have been whitewashed. The bathroom is home to a bath and separate shower, as well as a smart vanity unit that has been custom-made to fit the space.

Outdoor Space

The south-facing garden feels wonderfully private and receives plenty of sunshine throughout the day. Raised beds and beautifully planted borders outline the perimeter of the garden, surrounding it with flowering shrubs and vegetables. There is also a tiled section, where the current owner has set up a large table for alfresco dining.

The Area

Hilversum Crescent is perfectly positioned for the broad selection of cafes, bars and restaurants in both Peckham and East Dulwich. Lordship Lane is home to a vast number of independent shops including Mons Cheesemongers, Moxon’s Fishmongers, Terroirs wine bar, Bon Cafe and a wonderful deli, Jones of Brockley. The East Dulwich Picturehouse is a 10-minute walk away. The green spaces of Peckham Rye Park and Dulwich Park are within easy reach, and nearby Dulwich Leisure Centre has a public swimming pool and gym.

The nearest stations are Peckham Rye, North Dulwich and East Dulwich, which run Southern Rail services and citywide London Overground services. Trains to London Bridge take approximately 13 minutes. There are also excellent bus connections.

Tenure: Leasehold
Lease Length: approx. 141 years remaining
Service Charge: approx. £490 
Ground Rent: £10

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.


History

Camberwell Council acquired the site on which Hilversum Crescent stands from the Dulwich Estate in 1960; the existing houses were relatively large and by the late 1950s were in poor condition and nearing the end of their lease. The first drawings of the new scheme were submitted in 1964 by the borough architect F.O. Hayes to the Dulwich Estate’s office. The scheme had 136 units divided up into 36 two-person houses, 61 four-person units and 39 five-person units. The Dulwich Estate gave their approval, noting that “the problem of complying with a density of 70 persons to the acre has been well solved by erecting houses rather than flats.”

The Dutch Estate’s road names were a direct response to Camberwell’s twinning arrangement with the city of Deventer in Holland. The estate was completed in 1969; The Architects’ Journal of 16 December 1970 favourably reviewed the scheme as part of a report on the RIBA Housing Awards, with the project winning the award for Higher Density Public Sector Development. The assessors’ report praised the “excellent judgement in the size of spaces, heights of walls and choice of materials which produces an outstandingly pleasant scheme with the simplest of means.”

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