Niwa House

Project Info

Taking influence from Japanese architectural traditions, this elegant family home in East Dulwich celebrates the beauty and strength of a composite timber and stone structure.

Emerging within a constrained urban brownfield site, this partially subterranean home maximises floor area while maintaining a low profile to respect height constraints.

Inspired by traditional torii gates, a fully exposed oak glulam frame creates a network of structural layers, allowing for a delightful play of light and shadow. The language of the interior timber structure extends outside, where an Accoya frame runs around the edge of the house, offering an interpretation of a Japaneseengawa. The building’s novel roof structure combines timber beams with thin stone slabs for a lower carbon design that realises the architectural vision of a highly glazed façade, without overheating. The timber frame was carefully designed and prefabricated for material efficiency, demountability, and high-quality finish. This attention to detail ensured that the exposed structure met architectural, MEP and structural demands, resulting in a light and efficient building.

Other Services:

Specialist Contractor: Simonin