The Six Columns House, is a one-off family home in Crystal Palace, southeast London. The new house sits on a previously undeveloped trapezoidal plot and adopts a clever design that makes the most of the sloping site, creating a series of intimate spaces over three floors with varied sightlines that enhance the feeling of space. The interior layout prioritises communal areas over individual sleeping spaces, a deliberate choice by the client to foster plenty of family interaction.
A key structural consideration from the start was a mature Sycamore tree in the garden which had a Tree Preservation Order, and which dictated what was possible with the substructure. Piled foundations were chosen as they have less of an impact on tree roots than strip foundations, and the piles specified were minimally invasive screw piles. The ground slab was designed so that the piles could be relocated 150mm either way to allow them to be positioned to avoid tree roots. The ground slab was also stepped up close to the tree to further avoid damaging its roots. Other key structural elements include exposed brickwork, small exposed fairfaced concrete columns, a cross laminated timber first floor structure, and timber cladding. The construction uses as little concrete as possible, instead opting for timber and lightweight cement board for the eaves and roof edges, contributing to a lower carbon footprint.
Sustainable features include an air-source heat pump, triple glazing, and a passive ventilation system, helping to achieve notable energy efficiency, with the house producing significantly less CO2 than a standard home.
Externally, a formal street elevation with stepping brickwork and green marble panels, provides a welcoming approach. The landscaping includes two distinct garden areas, which have been designed to enhance biodiversity and manage rainwater sustainably on-site.
