Last weekend was Open House London. Now, let me tell you, this is one date with London I book a year in advance. It’s my version of heaven. Basically, it’s the idea of opening up all kinds of buildings for the public to explore what’s behind normally closed doors.
The reality can be somewhat frustrating, however, with all the queues, traveling around London, and various opening times of sites. So I was a bit annoyed by the time we got to our last stop on Saturday, but oooh did that one make the whole day worth it!
This architect-designed and lived-in house starts off on a plot of land 8 feet wide. Seriously. It’s basically the gap (hence, dubbed “Gap House”) between 
two other houses. (No clue why I didn’t get a photo of the front, so you’ll have to just believe me.) Along that corridor is a really lovely staircase of sustainably harvested wood.
After passing a mechanics closet (which packs in a lot including tanks and pipes for things like the ground source heat pump) and a little loo, the house widens a bit for the kitchen.
But it’s the view from the kitchen where the house really opens up. Tucking the living room (with an office loft above) behind the neighbors house allowed for both the kitchen and living room to have sliding folding doors opening up to the garden.
Can’t you just imagine living here!?!?
Now, if you are getting a little lost in the floorplan, the view from the back of the garden ties it all together. The floors cascading up contain the bedrooms.
Other eco features include passive solar design, highly insulated building envelope, and using rainwater to flush toilets and water plants.
I love this house because it is well designed, yet not at all ostentatious. From an incredibly awkward plot comes something very livable, very real, yet elegant and modern.
This home was designed by Luke Tozer of Pitman Tozer Architects. His blog (not so up to date but with more pics) is Architect’s Self-Build Eco House.
Luke – if you ever read this, thank you so much for sharing your home with so many.
HI Cheryl
You can actually watch this house being built from scratch I watched it on Grand Designs with John sometime ago, it was really fascinating. Mary
Hmmm…missed that episode – will have to catch it on the reruns.
Thanks for tuning in to the blog
C
Cheryl- luke here: just read your enthusiastic report of open house. So glad you enjoyed it so much.
The house did feature on Grand Designs but only as part of their spin off show Trade Secrets and then on Eco House of the Year award in may 2008. They didn’t actually film the build.
There’s most info on our website http://www.pitmantozer.com
all the best, luke