10 Ingenious design solutions helped these projects overcome their awkward sites
Homes on tricky plots Developers will often overlook difficult sites because trying to build on them is risky and costly. But their loss can be the self-builder’s gain, especially with a savvy architect on board. Whether it’s a steep slope or a flood-prone riverbank, such plots dictate how a home is constructed and can lead to some exciting and original architecture.
WORDS EMILY BROOKS
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BASEMENT SOLUTION Leyton House in east
London is the first major project for McMahon Architecture. Constructed on an infill site at the end of a 1960s terrace straddling two streets, the three-storey, two-bedroom home includes a subterranean level lit by two courtyard lightwells. The basement was key to creating enough living space for the couple who own it.
The exterior features brick on the ground floor and Siberian larch on the first floor, with street-facing windows that have been screened for privacy. Inside is a mix of timber, brick and concrete with exposed timber beams and a clay plaster wall that links all three levels. The project cost around £2,200 per sqm. (mcmahonarchitecture.com)
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