Set within a tight terraced context near Preston Park, close to Fiveways, this townhouse on Hythe Road demonstrates how a narrow urban plot can be carefully developed to support flexible, high quality living. With a width of just 3.4 metres and an area of 66m2, the house is sandwiched between neighbouring properties, requiring a precise and efficient approach to planning and daylight.
We undertook the detailed design, refining the architectural approach and resolving the internal layout to make the most of the constrained footprint.
The ground floor is organised around an open plan kitchen and dining space, designed for both daily use and informal gathering. Carefully integrated joinery and durable materials support a clear and efficient layout. This space opens directly onto a south facing courtyard garden, extending the living area and improving access to natural light.
At first floor level, a dual aspect space forms a key part of the plan. This room can be divided by Crittall style glazed doors to create two separate rooms, or opened up to function as a single larger space. This allows the floor to adapt over time, accommodating uses such as a study, living room or additional bedroom. It reinforces the house’s ability to support home working while maintaining flexibility.
The upper floor is arranged as a primary bedroom suite, positioned to take advantage of longer views towards the sea. A large bifold window brings in natural light and enhances the sense of space. The en-suite includes both a bath and a separate shower, arranged in a simple and functional layout.
This project contributes to ongoing discussions around compact urban housing. While not a tiny house in the strict sense, it demonstrates principles associated with that field, including adaptable rooms, efficient use of space, and careful consideration of light within a constrained site.
The project was delivered in collaboration with House of SNAPS, a boutique development business led by Simon and Laura. Their approach focuses on creating well considered, design led homes within smaller scale developments. Working closely with the client team allowed for a shared emphasis on quality, usability and long term value, resulting in a compact home that is both practical and carefully resolved.
