In Walthamstow, East London, a single-story new-build home brings contemporary flair to a small backland site. Designed by London-based architecture practice ao–ft, “Tree Courtyard House” is constructed from brick and cross-laminated timber (CLT). The home’s L-shaped plan is guided by the site’s mature London Plane tree and root system.
The restricted backland site is located at the end of a laneway, behind the Walthamstow Village commercial street. It was originally occupied by the large rear kitchen of a restaurant. In 2021, the client, a local property developer, contacted ao–ft with a view to exploring the possibility of building on the site: “The client saw the potential to bring more housing to the quickly growing neighborhood,” says the studio. In addition, the development of small, unused city plots helps to foster urban densification via in-fill development and urban consolidation.
In the corner of the plot, a mature London Plane tree captured the imagination of both client and architect, guiding the new home’s design.
Tree Courtyard House encapsulates ao–ft’s approach to sustainable construction, achieving precision through off-site fabrication, and creating architecture that links nature with the built environment. “Our design process exemplifies a commitment to preserving the site’s natural elements while maximizing functionality and accessibility, resulting in a single-story, two-bedroom home with level access,” says the studio.
The dwelling’s compact 63-square-meter (678-square-feet) floor plan necessitated an approach that maximizes accessibility and offers the potential for future adaptations. To make the best use of the home’s small footprint, ao–ft removed the need for hallways, opting for a smooth transition between spaces. The entrance is positioned at the heart of the L-shaped home; an open-plan living/dining/kitchen area and bathroom are bookended by two bedrooms that face onto the courtyard.
As part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest’s “Urban Design” planning strategy, the inclusion of an amenity space is an essential part of any new residential development: “All dwellings should have access to a private space that is not overlooked from public areas.” To meet this requirement, ao–ft positioned the house in the site’s north-east corner, resulting in a large (relative to the property) 50-square-meter (538-square-feet) garden and protecting the London Plane tree’s root system. “This careful consideration preserves the natural beauty of the site and enhances the overall well-being of future occupants by creating access to a tranquil outdoor environment,” says the studio.
The use of a textured dark brick with light mortar ensures the home blends with its surroundings, minimizing the impact of its physical form.
On the home’s interior, ao–ft’s interest in fabrication is clearly expressed — the prefabricated CLT allowed for efficiency in transportation and ease of assembly. A hip roof acts as the main pivot point in the L-shaped plan. The studio worked in collaboration with CLT constructor ConstruktCLT from the project’s early stages, designing a seamless ceiling where the main supporting glued laminated timber (glulam) beam is cut diagonally, then inverted and embedded within the roof construction — as a result, the ceiling’s CLT panels appear unsupported internally. “This subtle yet elegant detail creates a clean fold in the transition between the two pitched ceilings of the L-shaped plan,” says ao–ft.
Hip Roof Detail:
It was also important to protect the privacy of both the home’s occupants and its surrounding neighbors — in response, ao–ft extended the facade, creating a mono-pitched roof. The studio incorporated high windows, providing natural light and views of the tree foliage while maintaining privacy. The extra wall height adds volume to the small internal space and enhance’s the courtyard’s feeling of seclusion. In the bathroom, a large skylight bathes the room in natural light and provides a pleasing view of neighboring trees, without compromising privacy.
Tree Courtyard House demonstrates the use of mass timber on a smaller scale and reduces the project’s embodied carbon; an exhaust air heat pump reduces its operational carbon by extracting and reusing energy from waste air.
