Built in 2014, this two-bedroom house with private courtyard garden, on Winkley Street sits within a collection of workshops and late Victorian townhouses built for the East London furniture trade. Occupying the site of the former tax collector’s office, the design makes clever use of the slim site with a stepped plan and long view lines.

Designed by London-based practice Kirkwood McCarthy for the architects themselves, the deceptively demure frontage sits quietly in line with the tall Victorian townhouses that characterise The Old Bethnal Green Road Conservation area, while the back revels a concertedly more modern character that opens onto Teesdale Yard.

The house is a lesson in the restrained use of quality materials and thoughtful design. The two-storey frontage on Winkley Street mirrors the window line of the terrace, using red brick and large sash windows, while the three-storey rear has double-glazing that fills the house with light.

From the hallway, the staircase leads down to the open-plan living rrom and kitchen. This room has lovely herringbone brick floors which flow into the stepped courtyard garden beyond. At one end of the long room is the kitchen, with Silestone tops and lacquered cabinetry, beyond which are the dining and living spaces. There is an intelligent use of material throughout; the kitchen staircase is crafted from American black walnut and upper stairs are folded powder-coated steel – one is perforated to allow sunlight to dapple into the kitchen.

Every space in house has been carefully considered to double in function; the brick stairs in the courtyard garden double as seating. This wonderfully private space is both a lightwell, and the connection to Teesdale Yard which itself is an incredible reminder of London’s industrial past. Two-storey warehouses built for the furniture trade, which were supplied by Hackney’s textile businesses, are now used as artists’ studios. The open yard is filled with potted plants, and provides bike storage and back access to the surrounding terraces and a still-existing block of Victorian outhouses. The house itself speaks to the history of east London, its connection to art and craft, and recent rise as a centre for design.

The top floor of the house is laid out as a master suite, with a walk-through dressing room and en-suite bathroom. The bedroom makes the best of its elevation, with three folding doors that open to balcony. Below this is the second bedroom, which is equally well-used as a study. A further bathroom and utility cupboard are also located on this level.

The house is fitted throughout in a restrained palette that is grounded in bare brick, warm walnut wood and black metal finishes. These three elements come into synergy on the staircase, which is flanked by the original party wall. This is left exposed to show the section of the old red brick structure transitioning to a concrete infill indicating the former roofline, and finally the yellow stock that was once exposed to the elements.

Bethnal Green is now one of the more established East London neighbourhoods, and Winkley Street is at its heart, equidistant between Bethnal Green Underground Station (Central line) and Cambridge Heath Overground Station. There are excellent bus links to Hackney and Central London.

The area has an exciting mix of traditional pubs and cafes, such as E Pellicci, Tayyabs and The Approach Tavern, as well as a new wave of bars and restaurants including Brawn, Redchurch Brewery and Sager+Wilde on Paradise Row. The Common E2 is just around the corner for coffee, while the lauded Laughing Heart, Marksman pub and Morito are within walking distance. The area is home to many design and architecture practices as well as great small commercial galleries, including Maureen Paley, Modern Art, and Herald St.

Broadway Market and Columbia Road Flower Market are within easy walking distance. Slightly further afield is Brick Lane and Shoreditch and an enjoyable walk along Regents’ Canal leads to Victoria Park and Haggerston Park. There are numerous small local parks – Cameron Best Park at the end of the street, and Middleton Green a block away. The V&A Museum of Childhood is very close by, as is York Hall Leisure Centre.

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.