London has a fantastic history but sadly in many cases signs of it are lost forever. For every site and property that is saved and preserved there are a number that are not. This is very sad as they are a part of the heritage and culture of the area.

One thing that many people may find surprising is London was once home to a number of orchards. Unfortunately many of these were lost when the land they sat on became too valuable and demand for buildings rose. Remaining signs of them are quite rare now. That makes a residential architecture project in Dulwich, in the London Borough of Southwark stand out even more.

Pear House sits on the site of a Victorian orchard. The home was designed so that it splits into two blocks, creating a central courtyard. This helps to provide light for each block and promotes airflow. The courtyard is home to a 100 year old pear tree, the last remaining one on the site. Each block offers wonderful views of the tree and it works as a focal point for the property.

The design of the property is focused on preserving the tree and highlighting the history of the site. Both blocks sit on piles so that the roots were not damaged as a result of excavation. Many thin vertical timbers are used to give the impression of looking through a forest. Timber is also used throughout the property and the concrete walls have been imprinted with woodgrain in many areas.

The property is a really wonderful example of residential architecture and truly preserves the history of the site. The choice of materials is stunning and there are several green features of the property worth noting. They include rainwater harvesting, air-source heat pumps, and roof panels. All three help to keep energy consumption down.

At Coffey Architects we take inspiration from the diverse residential architecture seen all across London. The city is right at the cutting edge and always provides fantastic designs to look at and be inspired by.