Oak House

The site is located to the west of Oakdale Road, located to the southeast with Forest Gate Rail and Upton Park underground station directly to the south, which provides national rail services along with underground links via the Bakerloo, Circle, District and Hammersmith and City Lines.

Status:

Planning Granted

Tipology:

Residential

Size:

150 sqm

Building Cost:

+400k

Project Manager:

Kenny Orellana

The site sits near the corner of Oakdale Road and St George’s Avenue, Traveling along Oakdale Road, one very quickly notices how the surrounding area is mostly characterised by two-storey terrace residential properties to the northern side of Oakdale Road and a very irregular group of single-storey garages and storage units along the Southern part.

The existing buildings are comprised of a single-storey set of storage units with an overall footprint of 121 sqm, which over the last decade have been used as storage spaces and are located within an area without any local plans designations. As a result, no planning designations are stipulated by the adopted policy map.

As change is a fundamental characteristic of London, respecting character and accommodating change should not be seen as mutually exclusive.

Understanding the character of a place should not seek to preserve things in a static way but should ensure an appropriate balance is struck between existing fabric and any proposed change.

Opportunities for change and transformation through new building forms and typologies should be informed by an understanding of a place’s distinctive character, recognising that not all elements of Oakdale Road are special and valued.

Above: The Front Facade

This new three-bedroom house will span two floors and will fully comply with both London and local housing policies. It has been designed with the needs of its inhabitants in mind, specifically a local young family eager to thrive.

The architecture prioritises connectivity, featuring a family room that seamlessly integrates with an ‘interval’ space, allowing children to play freely while remaining engaged with the household’s activities.

Furthermore, an outdoor area has been thoughtfully incorporated on the first floor, serving as a buffer between this residence and the neighbouring properties.

This outdoor space will be enclosed with a horizontal wood plank trellis, which will not only prevent overlooking but also enhance the sense of privacy for the family.

Above: The Outdoor Terrace

At the ground floor this house has windows along Oakdale Road and the Winter Garden (interval space). At first floor windows are implemented along Oakdale Road and the Green Terrace.

A series of skylights have also been implemented, to enable passive ventilation.

This home is a ‘dual aspect’ and therefore provides good levels of daylight and sunlight to enhance natural light in all rooms.

The design intention for the new house is to provide high-quality housing that respects the architectural character of the adjoining properties. It aims to add new housing stock in response to high demand, while also improving the external appearance of the area.

The proposal is believed to enhance the setting and create a positive precedent, ensuring that the design is sympathetic to the existing context and does not harm the character of the nearby terraces.

Bespoke bricks, corrugated aluminium and wooden shutters are being proposed