Hill House

If there’s one thing we’ve learned makes better buildings, it’s empathy. Architecture never happens in isolation—and simply by being interested and engaged, we’ve found it’s possible to open up the conversations that connect a scheme to its clients and community.

We believe that the more constraints there are, the better the architecture. If there aren’t any constraints, we create them. Challenging sites, existing buildings and complex briefs almost always present incredible opportunities for great design.

To limit our environmental impact, we start with what is already there. By manipulating the form and fabric of a building—whether new or existing—we can work with the existing conditions of topography, light and orientation, and harness the natural energy sources offered by air, ground and water.

If a site’s constraints guide the bigger design decisions, then it’s empathy that informs the smaller, social details. These details frame the human narratives that aren’t included in the brief, anticipating specific moments in the users’ lives.

Good architecture is as much about what happens on the building site as it is about what’s on the drawing board. By working alongside contractors as well as clients we can ring-fence the ideas and details that matter, championing the quality of the building throughout its construction.

Hill House

Work Studio Activity News Contact

Work

Hill House
Grade II Listed
Sutton, London

Client

Sutton Housing Partnership
Community Action Sutton

Download

> Housing brochure

Hill House is Grade II listed and surrounded by mature trees. For over 50 years it has provided a base for community organisations in the London Borough of Sutton. CLTH are working on a renovation scheme for the house and a masterplan for the site in collaboration with Sutton Housing Partnership, Community Action Sutton and borough regeneration officers.

The proposals define a meanwhile use strategy for the whole site which allocates areas for a community garden and greenhouse alongside new social housing provision. New uses are carefully integrated with mature trees and site topography to ensure productive relationships between the different uses. The existing buildings are reconfigured to connect with the surrounding landscape, while the historic house is retrofitted with sustainable products and brought up to the latest energy standards.

CLTH continue to work with CAS and recently developed a proposal for a Green House to Re-Cycle the large windows being replaced on a neighbouring project at The Grove House in nearby Carshalton, where CLTH are working with Sutton Living. This ‘circular enconomy’ proposal way put to the Mayor of London in Jan 21’ for under the Make London fund and is part of the Community Fridge Initiative by CAS. This aims to tackle food poverty in St Helier and Carshalton.