The original house faced significant challenges, including leaky walls, deteriorating materials, and a maze-like layout of small, dark rooms. While this arrangement aligned with the lifestyle of 1950s families - where rooms were added incrementally as new functions emerged - it falls short of meeting the needs of modern family life. Office S&M reimagined the home to prioritise comfort, flexible spaces, and sustainability, creating a home that aligns with contemporary lifestyles while retaining its historical charm.
To address these challenges, the building’s fabric has been thermally upgraded throughout, improving energy efficiency and comfort. Wherever possible, original materials were preserved and repurposed rather than replaced, such as the exterior shingles and original pebbledash. Both have been carefully restored and painted, extending their lifespan while maintaining a connection to the home’s history.
Inside, the ground floor was opened up to merge previously isolated rooms into a spacious wraparound living area at the heart of the home. A curved wall, which houses a new WC, introduces playful geometry to the space, eliminating sharp corners and creating an inviting area for the family’s young children.
As a corner house located on a busy junction, the owners wanted to create a home that not only brings joy to their family but also enlivens the street and engages with passers-by. An undulating garden fence wraps around the garden like a blanket and animates the streetscape. From inside the home, the fence becomes part of a surreal landscape, viewed through the kitchen’s corner window as rolling waves on the horizon.
The design draws inspiration from the vibrant imagery of 1950’s cake adverts, American diners and digital art. Layers of pastel lilac evoke the icing on a cake, complemented by mint-green drainage pipes, checkerboard tiles, and a curved pink porch on butter yellow columns that serves as a focal point - like the cherry on the “cake”. The home’s unique character extends to personalised details, such as kitchen worktops inspired by the family’s young son’s felt-tip drawings and the lilac façade influenced by a much loved sun-bleached childhood toy.
Traditional 1950’s materials were creatively reimagined. Natural linoleum, laid in an oversized zig-zag herringbone pattern, adds a sense of movement and flow to the space. A glass block wall at the entrance allows the porch to emit a soft glow at night and fills the hallway with natural light during the day. The facades are treated with textured renders incorporating varying pebble sizes, a contemporary nod to the house’s original pebbledash finish. With elevations on three sides and a wraparound garden, the design features faceted walls and strategically placed windows that invite shifting light patterns, creating dynamic, ever-changing compositions throughout the home.
Brockley House thoughtfully bridges its mid-century heritage with contemporary living through a creative reconfiguration and extension. The design balances functionality with playfulness, creating a home that embraces modern family life while respecting its historical character. Engaging with its surroundings and streetscape, Brockley House stands as a distinctive and characterful addition to the neighbourhood.
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Location: Lewisham
Project: Residential refurbishment and extension
Client: Robyn and Mike