“I love the fact that we can go from ‘clearly kids live here’ to ‘do kids live here?’ very quickly because of the storage we have in the house”


“With all that going on we decided to try and ‘put a face to the build,’ to let our neighbours know we’re not developers and that this is going to be our home,” says Tope. Going as far as posting letters and chocolates through letterboxes as well as paying for the odd carwash, they managed to reassure locals. “We’re now part of the street’s WhatsApp group!” says Lanre.


Sticking to their budget was also another challenge. But a further example of their great teamwork was their dynamic as ‘architect and accountant.’ Lanre was keen to explore ideas of materiality and “test the waters” with different design elements. But with Tope’s profession being an accountant, she kept a reign on the numbers, and at times had to “reign in” some of the more ‘out there’ ideas. “ Sometimes, those roles reversed,” asserts Lanre.


36 www.sbhonline.co.uk


Considering their tight budget, the home has achieved a commendable EPC Rating of B. And with plans to install a green roof next, their plans or sustainability havent finished although their home is built.


Looking at London’s housing crisis, this design in an urban infill site is an eample o how to maximise every inch of space within our oversaturated cities. “I think there’s scope for more designs like this across the board,” says Lanre.


The family has now been living in their new home for almost 18 months, and are over the moon with the completed build. “I think we’ve managed to create something incredibly special, I feel so lucky to live here,” Tope. She adds: “It’s a beautiful piece of architecture but also works as a home to raise our children in. I’m really proud of it!”


sep/oct 2022 LOW POINT


“The timing of the stairs installation – the windows hadn’t been installed and so it was technically still outside. We spent a weekend trying to protect them.” - Lanre


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76