An unloved, previously developed piece of land could provide the ideal spot to build your new house. From piggeries and dairies to garages and warehouses, land formerly used for industrial purposes can be utilised for the most amazing homes
Modern oak frame
Carpenter Oak provided the green oak frame for this wow-factor home, designed by Roderick James Architects. The house sits on land previously occupied by a piggery and an orchard, hence its brownfield classification.
Obtaining planning permission to build on the site wasn’t straightforward, due to the lack of a town plan that covered the surrounding area. To help them navigate the process of getting consent, the owners hired a professional planning consultant who cited the land’s previous purpose to deem it brownfield, and therefore suitable for development.
This contemporary home is the result. A green oak frame forms the skeleton of the house, which is wrapped in a structural insulated panel encapsulation system. Natural stone cladding is paired with horizontally laid red cedar boards to clad the exterior of the house, which features a series of curved walls for a standout contemporary flourish. Inside, double-height spaces, vaulted zones and plenty of exposed oak imbue the property with character and style.
Urban cocoon
Polysmiths are behind the design of this split-level home in east London. Charles Wu, director of the practice, purchased the brownfield infill site in 2020 with a view to creating his own bespoke home. The rectangular slot of land is tucked away from the main street, enveloped by the walled gardens of neighbouring terraced homes. The dimensions of the long plot gave rise to the house’s unique design, which features three courtyards introduced as a means of chanelling light deep into the floorplan. The overall height of the building was limited by planning requirements, so part of the site was excavated in order to drop the floor level by one storey, resulting in a split-level design. A cleverly positioned lightwell helps to pour natural light down through the property, too.
“The project tackles multiple challenges, including how to intensify unused infill plots for new homes,” says Charles. “The result is a light-filled, efficiently built house using traditional and sustainable materials less commonly found in typical construction. It’s a comfortable, hidden cocoon.”
SIPs house on a tight plot
Homes erected on brownfield land are often found in built-up, urban areas — and this house in Dulwich, south London is no different. Keen to downsize for her retirement, the owner of this threebedroom property knocked down an abandoned double garage to make way for an energy-efficient new Passivhaus.
RDA Architec
