Located between terraced homes and the edge of Wanstead Flats, Forest Houses by Dallas-Pierce-Quintero revitalise an awkwardly-shaped brownfield plot – once a builder’s yard – to deliver 3 interwoven, upside-down homes.

 

D-P-Q’s design adopts an upside-down concept, where the first floors are home to living spaces, with bedrooms beneath. A sawtooth roof profile has been sensitively designed to mirror the height of the eaves of the adjacent homes. These are orientated north, with large windows providing daylight, natural ventilation and far-reaching views in the most-used spaces. From the outside, the glazing reflects the natural surroundings, rooting the scheme in its context. 

 

To develop a contextual architectural language, the material palette draws on the site’s history as a builder’s yard, and the traditional masonry of the terraces. All materials were responsibly sourced and chosen for their longevity, recycling capabilities and widespread availability.