Barrett’s Grove

Barrett’s Grove, designed with Groupwork, is a Stirling Prize shortlisted six-home residential building set on a disjointed, but characterful urban street on the boundary of conservation area in Stoke Newington.

Client

Cobstar Developments
Architect

Groupwork
Photography

Agnese Sanvito
Value

£1.3m
Size

635m²
Completion

2016

The form of the six-storey building echoes the tall gables of an adjacent school and the standalone presence of the neighbouring townhouse. Spruce cross-laminated timber is used for all wall, floor and roof superstructure and enveloping this is a continuous non-structural façade of striking perforated brickwork. Cantilevering wicker-woven balconies soften the external palette, and complete the fairy-tale trio of materials – brick, wood and straw – that was influenced through consultation with pupils at the school. Internally, the CLT and brick structures are left exposed and joined by timber sets, shelving units, doors and stairs, to create a warm and tactile aesthetic suitable for a residence.

The ability of the materials and superstructure to serve a number of purposes eliminated the need for plasterboarded walls, suspended ceilings, cornices, skirtings and finishes. This simplified design reduced the embodied carbon of the building by 15 per cent, and minimised construction cost and time on site.

Leaving many of the loadbearing element exposed required the team to have a comprehensive understanding of the structural properties of the materials involved. Careful detailing allowed each of the materials to act and move in their own way, and together they form the seamless combination of structural form and architectural vision.

Awards

2018

Civic Trust Awards

Winner
2018

Offsite Awards

Best Use of Timber Technology

Shortlisted
2017

Building Awards

Small Project of the Year

Shortlisted
2017

Brick Awards

Innovative Use of Brick and Clay Products

Commended
2017

Brick Awards

Small Housing Development

Winner
2017

Brick Awards

Craftsmanship

Shortlisted
2017

RIBA Stirling Prize

Shortlisted
2017

Structural Timber Awards

Private Housing Project of The Year

Shortlisted
2017

New London Awards

Commended
2017

RIBA London Awards

Winner
2016

Hackney Design Awards

Winner