Derelict garages to be transformed into 'invisible' mirror-clad house in south London

 
Futuristic: the design was praised by Lewisham council
Robin de Peyer19 June 2014

Two derelict garages are being transformed into an "invisible" eco-home in south London after planning chiefs gave the green light to the futuristic design.

The building, bought for just £9,000, will be clad with mirrors to help it blend seamlessly into its leafy surroundings in Brockley.

Architects came up with the innovative plans after planners at Lewisham Council rejected previous designs for the home - including building it on stilts - because they did not fit in with the elegant Victorian terraces nearby.

But permission has now been given for building work to start after the "mirror box" design was created to camouflage the building within its surroundings, and work is set to begin within weeks.

Blending in: A projection of how the house will sit in its surroundings

It will also feature a basement complete with a sunken garden, and a roof terrace sitting among the trees which line the street.

Architect Jacob Low, founding partner at London-based firm JaK Studio, said: "This project has certainly been an exercise in perseverance and represents a process full of dialogue with my clients, Lewisham planning department and various specialist consultants.

"As a practice we are proud to have at last won planning on such a constrained site with a bold proposal we believe is a truly unique solution in both conceptual and planning terms."

Mirror box: the design is an attempt to make sure the building fits in with the surrounding area

Lewisham council planning chiefs said the design will make a "unique and positive contribution" to the area in which it will sit when they gave the go-ahead in December.

The property will be a German-style 'Passivhaus' development, in which designs are focused on minimising the need for energy for heating and cooling.

Its developers say the building, in Manor Avenue, will only need heating for a handful of days each year because of its insulation systems.

Roof terrace: the three storey building should be completed by spring next year

Kevin Morton now hopes work will be completed by spring 2015 - with the value of the completed home likely to exceed £650,000 after a £250,000 projected spend on the work.

"We’d been trying to build a house in Lewisham and on this particular plot of land for a long time but given the complications faced, we were really unsure whether this would even become a reality," said Mr Morton.

"We owe a huge debt to the patience and creativity of the architects. We can now start building a house that is completely different to any of the houses in the surrounding area, or even in London itself."

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