Spruce House and Studio is a new-build home and self-contained design studio constructed from Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) on an infill site in Walthamstow, East London. The project embodies ao-ft’s interest in sustainable construction and fabrication with the aim to produce living environments that prioritise wellbeing through the use of bio-based natural materials.  Conceived as a mini masterplan, a series of garden spaces link the interior spaces with strategically positioned glazing and floor levels to embed inhabitants within the natural surroundings.

The project is located in a conservation area, situated on what used to be the village high street. The house is neighboured by various housing types that have transitioned from retail spaces into homes over the past century. Referencing the historic origins of the site and neighbouring properties, ao-ft questioned ‘what is a contemporary residential shop front’. This led to the development of the front façade’s proportions, alignment, and full width glazing across the ground floor. 

The new build infill house replaces an existing 1960’s infill which was in poor structural and material condition. With no salvageable elements of the previous building, ao-ft set out to design a home that minimised its carbon footprint through all aspects of its construction. Investigating several building methods led ao-ft to design the main structure in CLT for its environmental performance credentials and its beauty as an exposed internal finish. By removing layers of decorative material, the interior spaces are expanded while reducing the overall embodied carbon of the project. The prefabricated panels sequester 37 tonnes of carbon dioxide, and were assembled on site in just five days.

The design approach for Spruce House and Studio focused on creating generous open spaces within a traditional Victorian footprint through layering, reduction and embedding of multiple functions within interior elements. The Ground Floor is lowered by half a meter placing the occupants’ level with the garden. Built-in joinery is conceived as a large-scale piece of furniture concealing multiple functions. The bespoke kit of parts staircase is composed of 24 individual interlocking treads that allows light and air from the large skylight to pass through the steel perforations.