Hidden House - Mortlake 

Our clients aimed to create a new home within the garden of their existing property to better meet their future needs. However, local planning policy generally opposes back garden developments, and two previous planning applications by a different architect had been denied. Given this policy context and the property's sensitive location within the Mortlake Conservation Area, we devised a design that conceals the house from public view using a new brick garden wall.

The materials for the project were carefully selected to respect the conservation area's character while offering a contemporary look and feel. From the public realm, the only visible part of the house is the brick garden wall, constructed with weather buff clay bricks that match the brick-bond of adjacent walls and are soot-treated to blend in seamlessly. Inside, the wall features lighter bricks with a texture that changes below ground level. Complementing this, a terrazzo floor runs through all the rooms, paired with an exposed timber ceiling above, creating a harmonious blend of modern and traditional elements.