Blenheim Grove, Southwark

The tight triangular site is within a residential area in Peckham Rye. The railway sits close to the rear of the homes, necessitating acoustic triple glazing for soundproofing. 

Front gardens provide semi-private courtyards, creating an interstitial space between private and public – very similar to other buildings down Blenheim Grove. Neighbouring Victorian terraces and semi-detached homes are two- to three-floor buildings with pitched roofs. 

At its highest, the development is three floors. The play on the elevations as a result of the internal planning and the introduction of a roof deck at second-floor level overlooking the street means that the contemporary terrace feels very much part of its context. 

The architects deliberately included a split level within the units to create dynamism and flexibility to the internal layout. Each of the three-storey houses was designed so that a variety of layouts could be created within the buildings. The designers of the shells provided several options for how the homes could be internally designed by the end users, and these informed the location of decks, doors, windows and service connections.  

The shells are designed to ambitious sustainability standards, with a timber structure, triple glazing throughout and good airtightness. The development is car free and allows owners to include mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) and solar panels in the fit-out. To their credit, owners have improved on the target energy efficiency of the homes through the final design and specification, such as including air-source heat pumps for heating and hot water. 

The success of the project is seen in the different ways owners have created unique homes that reflect their characters and the way they want to live. The Blenheim Grove development is a clever example of how to build more affordable houses in London for clients who want to create a more personalised home. 

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RIBA Regional Awards 2025 sponsored by Autodesk, EH Smith, Equitone and VELUX