Office Ten Architecture, the London-based practice founded by Erika Suzuki and Anders Luhr, proudly announces the launch of Greenest House - a pioneering project that redefines how we approach the UK’s housing and environmental crises. Greenest House was officially unveiled this spring at Time Space Existence in Venice, during the Venice Biennale, running 10th May - 23rd November 2025.
The context: A housing and climate emergency
Britain faces a critical shortfall of over 4 million homes, with 300,000 new homes needed each year to bridge the gap. Meanwhile, much of the existing housing stock is outdated, poorly insulated, and energy-inefficient - with only 29% of UK homes achieving an EPC rating of C or above. Alarmingly, 6.7 million people live in fuel poverty. Despite this, the trend toward demolition and rebuild continues to displace communities, waste valuable resources, and contribute to the climate crisis.
The solution: Greenest House
Greenest House offers an alternative to demolition by upgrading and retrofitting existing terraced homes - a typology ubiquitous across UK cities. By increasing the usable space within these homes and converting them into multiple high-quality dwellings, Greenest House delivers affordable, energy-efficient housing while preserving community fabric.
"Our belief is simple: the greenest house is the one that already exists," says Anders Luhr. "By extending and renewing these cherished buildings, we can double housing capacity, drastically reduce energy consumption, and keep neighbourhoods intact."
A circular development model
The Greenest House initiative reinvests value unlocked through thoughtful redevelopment directly into the building itself. Upgrades include enhanced insulation, triple glazing, solar panels, and air source heat pumps. This model can reduce a home’s space heating demand by up to 90%, cutting both carbon emissions and energy bills. Furthermore, it enables residents to access benefits such as reduced council tax and green mortgages.
"Too often, the social and environmental costs of poor housing are ignored," adds Erika Suzuki. "We believe in a future where economic, social, and ecological sustainability go hand in hand."
Continuous learning, continuous impact
Unlike conventional development models, Greenest House operates as a continuous cycle. Teams carry forward lessons learned from one project to the next, fostering deep partnerships with suppliers and trades. This results in increasingly refined construction processes, improved efficiency, and resilient, future-proof buildings.
Time Space Existence, May 2025
Greenest House is presented at Time Space Existence, the biennial exhibition organised by the European Cultural Centre, in parallel with the Venice Biennale, from 10th May to 23rd November 2025.
Since its inception in 2012, Time Space Existence has provided a global stage for architectural thought that transcends conventional boundaries. The exhibition gathers an eclectic mix of architects, artists, designers, engineers, and thinkers - ranging from emerging studios to internationally renowned practices - who interrogate the essential themes of time, space, and existence within the built environment. In this context, Greenest House serves as a timely intervention.
A collaborative vision for a sustainable future
To realise Greenest House, Office Ten Architecture has partnered with a curated group of forward-thinking suppliers, each driving innovation in sustainable construction. These collaborators share a commitment to redefining how buildings are made—prioritising circularity, longevity, and low-carbon solutions.
The project features contributions from:
Adaptavate – creators of breathable low carbon and carbon-negative construction materials, including plaster and plasterboard
Brouns & Co – specialists in natural linseed oil paints and finishes
Cleveland Steel – leading suppliers of repurposed structural steel
EcoDuct – manufacturers of pre-insulated, energy-efficient and low CO2 ductwork
Sisalwool – producers of natural fibre, breathable insulation
Ten & Sen – designers of sustainable, durable joinery and interiors
These partnerships are integral not only to the exhibition debut of Greenest House at Time Space Existence but also to its next phase: a full-scale implementation on a live retrofit site.
Office Ten Architecture’s bold vision is not limited to conceptual design. It is a blueprint for how we can reshape existing homes - and by extension, our cities - through collaboration, ingenuity, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability.
