Hayhurst & Co. ‘Green House’ won the UK’s best residential scheme

The project remodels a typical house on a restricted urban site in Tottenham. Clad in polycarbonate panels and surrounded by lush vegetation, its discreet facade aims to conceal a compact and exceptional social space. Taking inspiration from the architecture of riads, the project creates an urban oasis filled with natural light and vegetation.

Located in the Tottenham Conservation Area, the design by Hayhurst & Co. features garden views and a rooftop terrace. The residence integrates with its surroundings, strengthening its ties with the surrounding vegetation. The central atrium, bright and flooded with natural light, creates shadows that change with the seasons, illuminating the entire interior of the house.

At its core, the house is designed as a practical, affordable, five-bedroom home, prioritizing open spaces and easy access to the outdoors for the owners’ growing family. The ground floor has an open-concept kitchen, dining room and living room area, separated by floor-to-ceiling curtains, giving the space greater flexibility. This functional structure serves as a stage for children’s programs and houses a photography studio that caters to various aspects of family life. Green painted steel steps stand out from the large atrium and lead to the bedrooms and bathrooms.

The biophilic design of the Green House challenges urban conventions and strengthens relationships with the natural world. Sliding polycarbonate screens, bamboo and a shaded atrium between the indoors and outdoors give the family more privacy and ventilation options, integrating them with nature.

The home maximizes energy efficiency by using materials such as recycled rubber cork flooring and cross-laminated timber (CLT) walls. Additionally, the central core design and use of solar panels and air source heat pumps reduce total energy consumption during operation.

The RIBA House of the Year 2023 jury selected Green House as an exceptional team effort, representing “an extraordinary project in an ordinary environment”. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the John Morton Center in London as the winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize 2023. Designed by Mæ, the center serves as a facility for residents of Morton College, a retirement community in Blackheath. This summer, the RIBA announced 30 winners The 2023 National Architecture Award provides insights into the country’s architecture, design and social trends. In addition, the RIBA has selected Professor Yasmeen Laurie to receive the 2023 Royal Gold Medal for Architecture. The award, one of architecture’s highest honors and the first to be personally recognized by King Charles III, recognizes Yasmeen Laurie’s work in championing zero carbon self-build concepts for displaced people.