How a Six-Metre London Plot Became an Award-Winning Eco-Home
A narrow six-metre-wide plot in Highgate, north London, now hosts an award-winning sustainable home. Completed in 2016, the house blends prefabricated timber with traditional brickwork, setting a benchmark for eco-friendly urban living. Its unique design has since inspired similar projects across the capital. The house sits on a tight, 25-metre-long strip of land, squeezed between two older masonry buildings. Its brick base supports a curved timber shell, forming an elliptical 'ark' that houses open-plan living areas and a winter garden. Inside, the double-height kitchen and dining space features plywood and softwood ribs, creating a warm, airy lozenge shape.
Bedrooms are sunken into the ground level, designed as compact, soundproofed spaces. Large glazed sections on the garden side flood the interior with natural light while framing views of the outdoors. The winter garden includes built-in circular furniture—a desk, seating, and planters filled with German cacti—adding a touch of greenery to the living area. Sustainability drives every detail. Cold-moulded timber and recyclable materials were chosen for performance and eco-friendliness. A mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) system works alongside passive features, such as solar gain optimisation, to keep energy costs low. The result is a flexible home that adapts easily to different ways of living and working. Since its completion, the house has opened to the public each September as part of Open House London. Over 1,500 visitors have toured the property, drawn by its innovative approach to urban sustainability.
The Highgate house has become a reference point for London's eco-architecture. Its mix of cross-laminated timber, passive house principles, and solar technology has influenced later projects, including Camden's Passivhaus developments and Barking Riverside's net-zero homes. Stricter UK building regulations, like the 2025 Future Homes Standard, continue to push these innovations forward.
