To fully exploit the constrained width, avoid loading the neighbouring structures and straddle shared utilities running under the site, the 5️⃣ house was constructed using a lightweight steel frame on a piled slab. The steelwork was prefabricated as a series of 5️⃣ portal frames that were craned down the alley and site-welded together. Given that every inch in such a narrow space 5️⃣ was valuable we chose to fully weld the connections and express the frame internally, even utilising the depth of the 5️⃣ steels to maximise the space.

Alongside the painted steel a simple palette of spruce plywood, douglas fir joists, terrazzo and cork 5️⃣ flooring enriches the interior. Externally the timber framed walls are clad in handmade pewter glazed brick slips with a patina 5️⃣ that reflects the changing light of the sky. Both the simply landscaped and planted rear courtyard and the garden in 5️⃣ front of the house enhance the feeling of space in this small dwelling.

This self-build project had a long gestation, fitted 5️⃣ in around professional and family life. The design and construction were developed as time and money allowed so whilst planning 5️⃣ consent was given in January 2014 and the ground works commenced in the spring of 2024, the building was not 5️⃣ completed until August 2024. We worked closely with friend and joiner Michael Tye to lead a small team of local 5️⃣ subcontractors and employed specialist fabricators for certain key packages as well as undertaking a fair amount of the work ourselves.

The 5️⃣ result is a unique and highly crafted home that is a testament to the commitment, effort and support of many 5️⃣ people. By replacing a narrow disused alley with this comfortable small home we hope to have enhanced the streetscape we 5️⃣ inhabit. As the building completes the terrace, so does the front garden - with the simple bin store, planting, level 5️⃣ access and bike parking we aimed to keep it open and reinforce the pavement line without making a hard boundary. 5️⃣ The development highlights the viability, both economically and spatially of small brownfield sites to provide high quality sustainable development at 5️⃣ a time of housing shortage. We see it as a model for other seemingly undevelopable urban gap sites where the 5️⃣ value added is through the quality of the architecture rather than over-development.

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