Completed in 1980, this three-bedroom house forms part of a pioneering scheme of self-build houses overseen by the celebrated architect Walter Segal. It sits opposite leafy Sydenham Wells Park and is bookended by lawns studded by mature sycamore trees. Arranged on a north-south axis, the house receives an excellent quality of light throughout the day through its many wide windows. It has a beautiful, south-facing rear garden that receives light all day.

Please note that the house is largely in its original condition and will require some updating. It has only been lived in by the original builder.

The Architect

Walter Segal (1907-1985) was a Berlin-born architect who devised a system of self-build housing. The ‘Segal Method’ uses standard building board materials and timber sections applied in a modular grid system. It eliminates the need for wet trades such as bricklaying and plastering, and reduces foundations and groundworks to a minimum. The method’s simplification of the construction process empowers those who are not experts, nor professional architects, to build a house and to have a leading role in shaping its design. The houses continue to inspire today and are regularly featured in the press.

The Scheme

The Segal Method was employed in this pioneering scheme under Lewisham Council, which saw four sites of conventionally unbuildable land developed by a group of self-builders who were selected in a land allocation lottery in the late 1970s.

Each of the families selected for the scheme was responsible for building their own house from start to finish. This organisation of labour, and the adaptable nature of the Segal Method resulted in a collection of homes that were designed to suit each family’s individual requirements, rather than a series of identical houses. Furthermore, the practice allowed for later alterations, extensions and improvements to the houses in accordance with the occupants’ circumstances. For more information, see the History section.

The Tour

The house sits on an elevated site on Longton Avenue, set back from the road behind a front lawn and an established sycamore tree. The tartan grid system of the Segal Method manifests in the façade of the house: its exposed timber frame is infilled with cream-coloured panels, while rows of glazing adhere to the regular pattern.

Shallow steps lead to the side of the house, where the front door lies. Entry is to a vestibule, with the main hallway beyond. The living spaces are arranged around this central arterial point. A shower room sits adjacent to the entrance porch.

The living room is at the rear of the plan, and, like the house’s exterior, is characterised by the expression of the structural frame. Douglas fir  posts and beams envelop the space, and light pours into the room through a bank of south-facing windows that stretch from floor-to-ceiling. A glazed door opens directly to the rear patio, creating a wonderful exchange between the house and garden.

The kitchen lies on the opposite side of the hallway and is composed of two rows of cabinetry, a four-ring gas hob, oven and a stainless steel sink. There is plenty of space for a dining table to sit beneath one of two large window with leafy views of Sydenham Wells Park. A door opens from the kitchen to a raised deck at the side of the house, where beams overhead provide a tether for climbing plants.

From the hallway, a staircase ascends to the first floor with a filigree construction of open-risers and supporting hangars. Crafted from richly-toned hardwood, its fine timber components lap over one another at right angles, creating a strikingly sculptural effect.

There are three bedrooms upstairs, along with an office/nursery, a shower room and a WC arranged around a central landing. The primary bedroom is at the front of the plan, while two further bedrooms sit at the rear; in the latter, the panes of large windows slide gently over one another to open the rooms to the garden.

Outdoor Space

Gardens extend to the front and rear of the house, with lawns surrounded by beds of established roses, conifers, magnolias and hydrangea, and each spring blooms of daffodils and tulips. In the south-facing back garden, a flagstone-laid patio makes an ideal spot for a table and chairs and for keeping pots of flowers and/or herbs.

At the foot of the garden is a recently added garden studio, which has been used by the current owners as an office and a summer house. The studio is clad in cedar and is topped with an overhanging flat roof that mimics that of the original house.

In the absence of conventional foundations, Segal houses can be positioned unusually close to mature trees; there is a grand sycamore in the front garden, and another in the back garden. There is also a large garage to the front of the house that opens onto Longton Avenue. A shed in the garden adds further storage.

The Area

From its leafy position, Sydenham has both suburban remove and south-east London verve. The area developed as an affluent Victorian neighbourhood and has been the home of Crystal Palace FC since 1854. It has long been celebrated for its green aspect, with 19th-century painter Camille Pissaro depicting the approach to Fox Hill Church in his piece ‘The Avenue, Sydenham’.

Kirkdale High Street is nearby with treasures such Vardo and 161 Wine Bar. Local amenities can be found at nearby Dulwich Village and Crystal Palace, and the Sydenham Hill Wood Nature Reserve is close by. Much of the surrounding area is owned by the Dulwich Estate, with its strong reputation for conservation. The excellent Dulwich Wood Primary school is nearby.

Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Golf Course, as well as allotments and sports club grounds, provide an unbroken green space as far as Dulwich Park and Lordship Lane, and the Green Link walkway offers miles of footpaths between them. Sydenham Wells Park is just across the road. The excellent Woodhouse Pub is located at the entrance to Crescent Wood Road, voted by The Daily Telegraph as having one of the best pub gardens in London. Other local attractions include The Dulwich Picture Gallery, The Horniman Museum and the local town centres of Crystal Palace and Dulwich Village.

Crystal Palace is nearby, which was named in Lonely Planet’s “Greatest little-known neighbourhoods in the world”, is a vibrant area with award-winning restaurants and bars as well as a thriving art and music scene. The same can be said for nearby Lordship Lane which is lined with lively independent shops and restaurants, such as Kartuli which provides exceptional Georgian food.

The house is a 20-minute walk to Sydenham station, which runs services to London Victoria in 15 minutes and to Blackfriars in 18 minutes. Overground trains from Forest Hill or Sydenham run to Canada Water in 20 minutes.

Council Tax Band: E

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.