Mixed Use / Commercial
The Old Stables
Tucked behind a busy market street in East Dulwich, The Old Stables transforms a tight infill mews site into a compact, flexible live/work home.
The brief was simple but ambitious: create a ground-floor workspace with a self-contained studio above, all within a highly constrained plot with limited access and overlooking challenges.
To unlock the site, we adopted an off-site modular construction strategy. The building was designed using brick-clad SIPs panels to sit comfortably within the surrounding mews, pairing robustness with a clean, industrial character. Bespoke window forms introduce visual interest while carefully managing privacy between neighbouring properties.
Fabrication took place in a Southampton SIPs warehouse, where the structure was precision-built and divided into three modules. These were transported to London and craned into position over the main street a process that required more time securing the road closure than assembling the building itself.
Once installed on pre-formed foundations, the fit-out was completed within weeks.
Early thermal modelling in PHPP informed the design: the result is a highly efficient building with excellent thermal performance. Delivered on a tight budget of approximately £150,000, the project provides around 100 square metres of adaptable, modern accommodation. Today, both the workspace and the studio are fully in use light-filled, comfortable, and performing beautifully. The clients and occupants couldn’t be happier.
A small site. A modest budget. A smart solution.
The Old Stables demonstrates how inventive modular design can unlock even the most challenging urban plots. Learn more.
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