modern architecture london
modern architecture london

Southwood House Estate

Andrews, Emerson & Sherlock, 1958-62
Housing | Jackson's Lane, N6

Photos taken January & March 2009.

The houses are mirrored in pairs. Of the three house types in this development, these ones are the most straightforward in terms of the layout, but the most unusual in terms of their appearance. This is due to a number of things - a flat roof, pinkish coloured brickwork, exposed concrete beams, dark window frames and L-shaped window arrangement.

The houses are constructed with 9 inch load bearing cross walls with concrete beams externally and steel beams either side of the staircase carrying timber joists spanning front to back. As brick is used on the front elevation, this method of construction isn't expressed as clearly as on the 3 story, 3 bedroom houses.

Inside, there is a garage, entrance hall and kitchen at the font and living and dining areas at the back. There is a recessed area to give additional privacy in the dining area. (A more recent floorplan shows the garage and recessed area removed to give two larger open plan spaces for kitchen / dining at the front and living at the back.) The staircase is free-standing and leaving a gap between the stairs and the wall helps to bring the light from the clerestory windows into the centre of the house. On the first floor there are two larger and two smaller bedrooms. The reason for the L-shape windows is that a tall window is provided for views out and a high-level window is provided to bring more light into the room while allowing furniture to be placed aginst the wall.

Southwood House Estate
Southwood House Estate
More recent ground floor plan with garage converted to give two open plan spaces for kitchen/dining at the front and living at the rear.