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We have been engaged by a property developer to redevelop a large residential site currently occupied by a detached bungalow, an outbuilding, and an extensive garden. The existing building’s scale and typology are not reflective of the prevailing character of the street or the expectations of the local property market, which is predominantly defined by larger family houses.
Following a series of feasibility studies, the client has chosen to redevelop the site to accommodate two four-bedroom semi-detached houses. This approach makes more efficient use of the plot while remaining appropriate to the established residential context. The surrounding street is characterised by a mix of substantial detached and semi-detached dwellings, typically arranged with strong street presence, pitched roofs, and generous proportions.
We have carefully considered the architectural approach that combines contemporary clarity with a strong respect for local context. The architecture is unified through a consistent use of brickwork, which forms the primary material across all elevations and establishes a sense of continuity.
The brickwork façades are articulated with a high level of detail, particularly around the windows and doors. Openings are set within deep brick reveals, created through subtle projections and recesses in the brick courses. This layered treatment introduces depth and shadow, enriching the façades and giving the elevations a crafted, robust quality. The detailing around the openings aids to define elements within the overall mass of the building while providing a strong visual rhythm across both the front and rear elevations.
Pre-cast concrete elements are carefully integrated beneath the windows and around the main entrance. Below the windows, these horizontal concrete bands provide a clear contrast to the brickwork while referencing traditional sill and lintel treatments commonly found in 1930’s residential suburban architecture in the UK. Around the entrance, the pre-cast concrete frames the doorway and reinforces its importance as the primary point of arrival, giving the entrance a composed and legible presence. This same pre-cast concrete is continued in the front path, strengthening the visual connection between the street, the approach, and the entrance, and ensuring a coherent material palette throughout.
The street façade has been designed to sit comfortably within its surroundings in Esher, Surrey, an area known for its traditional residential character. Typical residential architecture in Esher is defined by pitched roofs, clay tiles, brick and render façades, and well-proportioned openings, often arranged in a balanced and ordered manner based around the double-height bay-windows or projecting gable end main façade features. The proposed building responds directly to this context through its pitched roof form, its use of clay roof tiles that match those of neighbouring houses, and its disciplined façade composition. While the detailing is contemporary in its precision, the overall massing, scale, and materiality align closely with the existing houses on the street, allowing the new building to feel both familiar and refined.
At the rear, the terrace is formed using the same brick type and bond as the main façades, ensuring the garden elevation is treated with the same architectural care as the street frontage. This approach avoids a clear distinction between front and back, reinforcing the idea of the building as a fully resolved object.
Overall, the two houses presents a restrained and contextual architectural response, using brickwork detailing, pre-cast concrete elements, and clay tiled roofs to create a cohesive design. It respects the established architectural language of Esher and the streetscape while subtly reinterpreting it through contemporary detailing, resulting in a building that feels both rooted in its setting and confidently modern.
ESHER, SURREY
DATE
2025
STATUS
PLANNING APPLICATION SUBMITTED
PROEJCT DESCRIPTION
NEW BUILD SEMI-DETACHED HOUSES
We have been engaged by a property developer to redevelop a large residential site currently occupied by a detached bungalow, an outbuilding, and an extensive garden. The existing building’s scale and typology are not reflective of the prevailing character of the street or the expectations of the local property market, which is predominantly defined by larger family houses.
Following a series of feasibility studies, the client has chosen to redevelop the site to accommodate two four-bedroom semi-detached houses. This approach makes more efficient use of the plot while remaining appropriate to the established residential context. The surrounding street is characterised by a mix of substantial detached and semi-detached dwellings, typically arranged with strong street presence, pitched roofs, and generous proportions.
We have carefully considered the architectural approach that combines contemporary clarity with a strong respect for local context. The architecture is unified through a consistent use of brickwork, which forms the primary material across all elevations and establishes a sense of continuity.
The brickwork façades are articulated with a high level of detail, particularly around the windows and doors. Openings are set within deep brick reveals, created through subtle projections and recesses in the brick courses. This layered treatment introduces depth and shadow, enriching the façades and giving the elevations a crafted, robust quality. The detailing around the openings aids to define elements within the overall mass of the building while providing a strong visual rhythm across both the front and rear elevations.
Pre-cast concrete elements are carefully integrated beneath the windows and around the main entrance. Below the windows, these horizontal concrete bands provide a clear contrast to the brickwork while referencing traditional sill and lintel treatments commonly found in 1930’s residential suburban architecture in the UK. Around the entrance, the pre-cast concrete frames the doorway and reinforces its importance as the primary point of arrival, giving the entrance a composed and legible presence. This same pre-cast concrete is continued in the front path, strengthening the visual connection between the street, the approach, and the entrance, and ensuring a coherent material palette throughout.
The street façade has been designed to sit comfortably within its surroundings in Esher, Surrey, an area known for its traditional residential character. Typical residential architecture in Esher is defined by pitched roofs, clay tiles, brick and render façades, and well-proportioned openings, often arranged in a balanced and ordered manner based around the double-height bay-windows or projecting gable end main façade features. The proposed building responds directly to this context through its pitched roof form, its use of clay roof tiles that match those of neighbouring houses, and its disciplined façade composition. While the detailing is contemporary in its precision, the overall massing, scale, and materiality align closely with the existing houses on the street, allowing the new building to feel both familiar and refined.
At the rear, the terrace is formed using the same brick type and bond as the main façades, ensuring the garden elevation is treated with the same architectural care as the street frontage. This approach avoids a clear distinction between front and back, reinforcing the idea of the building as a fully resolved object.
Overall, the two houses presents a restrained and contextual architectural response, using brickwork detailing, pre-cast concrete elements, and clay tiled roofs to create a cohesive design. It respects the established architectural language of Esher and the streetscape while subtly reinterpreting it through contemporary detailing, resulting in a building that feels both rooted in its setting and confidently modern.
