Goldney Road

The challenge was to create generous family houses within a tight, inward-facing site. Traditional mews houses often suffer from limited light, so maximising daylight was central to the brief, alongside embedding sustainable technologies from the outset. With a primary school to one side and a steel-drum rehearsal studio to the other, the development also needed to manage noise effectively while still feeling open, comfortable and welcoming.

The site itself was previously a taxi repair yard – a constrained brownfield plot with little inherent character. Our aim was to reinterpret it as a place people would feel connected to: organised around a landscaped courtyard, with shared areas that encourage community, and private terraces that allow life to spill outdoors. The new mews plan turns a leftover piece of city into a setting for everyday domestic life, rooted in nature and neighbourliness.

A perimeter arrangement allowed the homes to face into a gated, landscaped courtyard, recreating the character of a traditional mews while shaping outlook and reducing noise. Set-back, partially screened ground-floor terraces create layered thresholds and places for planting and pause. Dual-aspect plans and carefully positioned openings draw light from the side and above, giving each home a strong connection to the shared landscape.

Material choices emphasise longevity and craft. Handmade Danish grey bricks with flush pointing are paired with pale resin-stone surrounds that recall mid-century mews architecture, while western red cedar softens the opening panels and reduces visible frame sizes. Above, Tecu brass wraps the upper level, weathering to a muted, tarnished bronze over time. High insulation, triple glazing, rainwater harvesting, PVs, sedum roofs, SUDS, EV charging and whole-house ventilation ensure the homes perform efficiently and reliably over the long term.