Client: BNP / Merrick Real Estate Ltd

Location: Clapham South, South West London

Status: Complete

Brief

Located on the south side of Clapham Common, Elms Road is a residential development that provides 15 units arranged over 5 storeys, with a 3-storey rear coach house (including for full lower ground floor accommodation).

The site forms a central point in a run of five detached Victorian Villas along Elms Road, however after bombing in WW2 the site was left vacant with only the rear coach house remaining before its demolition and the construction of John Vetch House in the 1950s.

The new development included the demolition of the existing building (John Vetch House) with the construction of a new high-quality residential building, the desire always was to rebalance the street-scene and return the row of Victorian Villas to their original composition.

The architecture and design of the development takes precedent from the adjacent villa typology, a modern interpretation of the neighbouring facades and the reinstatement of the previous coach house. The resultant proposal is a residential development that is in keeping with the character of the conservation area and reflects the local vernacular in a manner which is appropriate to its time, enhancing the identity and appearance of the local street-scene. The detailing of the facades was evolved to provide a modern interpretation of the Victorian villas that are present on either side of the site. The stone banding and window reveals enhance and give both rhythm and delineation to the façade as well as an order that is inherent of the Victorian style.

It delivers a new development that encompasses high quality architecture that is sympathetic in its reference to the local and immediate vernacular – a modern twist, that allows modern living within a traditional form. The carefully considered massing, height, and scale alongside the detailing and materiality of the design provides a dynamic addition to the surrounding context and conservation area.