Corner Fold House

Corner Fold House
© French + Tye

Corner Fold House

Whittaker Parsons

ARCHITECT
Valeria Di Carlo

SAP CONSULTANT
Vision Energy

STRUCTURAL & CIVIL ENGINEERS
Price & Myers

MANUFACTURERS
E H Smith, MOSO, Sightline Aluminium Systems

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Camilla Parsons, Matthew Whittaker

MAIN CONTRACTOR
BCS - Building Contractor & Services Ltd.

PART I ASSISTANT
Willam Chew

PHOTOGRAPHS
French + Tye

AREA
123 m²

YEAR
2022

LOCATION
Peckham, United Kingdom

CATEGORY
Houses

The Corner Fold House is a compact, urban infill carefully crafted by Whittaker Parsons for a downsizing couple in south London. Sandwiched between a live substation and a short Victorian terrace, the Corner Fold House makes the most of the 3.9m wide plot.

Corner Fold House
© French + Tye
Corner Fold House
© French + Tye

Built on a tight budget within a logistically challenging context, Whittaker Parsons has economically designed this compact house with moments of spatial and material generosity, utilizing every inch of space.

Forming a bookend to the short terrace, the architects have skillfully manipulated the form of the house; its parapet is faceted, folding elegantly around the corner, creating a robust and quietly confident addition to the streetscape.

Corner Fold House
© French + Tye
Corner Fold House
© French + Tye
Corner Fold House
© French + Tye

The choice of red brick and in-situ concrete bands is a nod to the surrounding Victorian terraces.

Internally the spaces unfold, offering a bright and calm sanctuary with far-reaching views across the property's green roof and the neighboring leafy gardens to Crystal Palace.

The accommodation is split over three floors comprising: a living room and bathroom at entrance level, an impressive top floor master bedroom boasting expansive views south, and a kitchen-diner, washroom–utility room, and subterranean study/guest bedroom located on the lower ground floor.

Corner Fold House
© French + Tye
Corner Fold House
© French + Tye
Corner Fold House
© French + Tye

All spaces have been meticulously detailed, making the most of readily available materials.

A beautifully crafted oak staircase is located at the front of the building serving the south-facing habitable rooms.

The stair and balustrades have been detailed to create a sense of movement and energy, naturally lit by large north-facing windows.

Corner Fold House
© French + Tye
Corner Fold House
© French + Tye
Corner Fold House
© French + Tye

The curved plaster wall and its mirrored recesses bounce light into the spaces.

The hit & miss brickwork on the front elevation lets light into the stairwell but crucially provides screening from passers-by on the street.

The lower ground floor, housing the kitchen and dining space, is formed of two volumes.

Corner Fold House
© French + Tye
Corner Fold House
© French + Tye
Corner Fold House
© French + Tye

The first volume holds the kitchen, with a polished concrete floor, bamboo-lined joinery, and a worktop.

The second larger volume accommodates a seating area below-exposed timber ceiling joists and adjacent floor-to-ceiling sliding doors leading into the incredibly private sunken courtyard garden.

Corner Fold House
© French + Tye
Corner Fold House
© French + Tye

Traditional construction methods were used to keep the construction costs low and ensure a good quality of the build. 

The garden, green roof, and internal spaces are easy to maintain, an electric car charging point is installed, and thermal elements are designed to ensure the occupant's comfort and minimize the property's running costs.

Corner Fold House
© French + Tye


Corner Fold House
Model
Corner Fold House
Model


Corner Fold House
Plan - Ground floor
Corner Fold House
Plan - Ground floor
Corner Fold House
Plan - First floor
Corner Fold House
Section