The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) had picked a longlist earlier this year for the 2023 House of The Year, followed by a shortlist in October. After much thought and speculation, the award was presented to Hayhurst and Co for its Green House in London. Deemed the best new home in the UK, the Green House is tucked away on a busy street in Tottenham, North London, and is designed to be a light-filled and lush green home for a family.
Designer: Hayhurst and Co
To build the Green House, the studio had to replace a dilapidated building in poor condition. The new structure is a contemporary, beautifully designed, and energy-efficient family home. It features a visually appealing facade that is built using sliding polycarbonate roofing sheets, which allow daylight to effortlessly stream into the home. This creates an open and free-flowing space that is filled with light and feels expansive and cozy.
The home was also built using sustainably sourced cross-laminated timber, as well as roof-based solar panels which reduces the home’s dependency on grid-based electricity. The entire home is heated by an energy-efficient pump system. It was the client’s and the architect’s mission to build a truly sustainable home, which can be seen in the various features and detailing of the home.
“Green House, affectionately known as the ‘Tottenham Riad,’ is a true oasis within the city,” said RIBA Jury Chair, Dido Milne. ”It is both airy and cozy, bold yet respectful of its neighbors. Your eye is simultaneously drawn upwards to the open sky and down and out across the living room to verdant greenery.”
The home has been filled to the brim with loads of greenery. It is arranged like a Moroccan riad, with a huge internal courtyard placed in the center. It also includes a first-floor balcony, as well as an atrium that encourages stack ventilation. The Green House is topped with a quaint rooftop terrace that functions as an idyllic space to relax in. The rooms of the home are quite spacious and expansive, which can be separated via curtains if need be, this provides the family with flexibility if circumstances and needs change in the future.
