LPA’s client bought two houses in the London borough of Hackney because the very large garden to the rear provided the potential for backland development. First LPA identified and partitioned off the land needed for the original houses. The remaining plot provided a quiet, tree-filled respite from the main road, but also a huge range of planning and development restrictions including; tree roots, overlooking, access, garden plot size, basement light wells, internal and external amenities.
Using the multiple and uniquely site-specific restraints themselves to define the story and the spatial envelope, LPA started with a block mass model and pushed, pinched and pulled into every available area to maximise space.
Working within rather than against the restrictions provoked LPA’s site-specific design solution for 3 houses, each with; basement, ground and first floors and each with their own private gardens.