OXFORD ROAD

The bright and colourful transformation of a previously derelict site into welcoming, connected homes

FOR BRICK BY BRICK

Modern apartment complex with colorful exterior panels and large windows, two people walking on a paved pathway beneath a clear blue sky, surrounded by green trees.

At Oxford Road we sought to engender a positive social dynamic through architecture. As such, the plan is arranged around shared access routes, overlooked by kitchen windows to provide passive surveillance without compromising residents’ sense of privacy in living rooms and bedrooms. Houses facing directly onto the public realm have a privacy zone to the front, which comprises a metre cupboard, bicycle or bin store, with a threshold of plants.

To draw in abundant light, a clerestory window runs the length of the street, punctuating the upper storey from the ground and offering significant light levels to the living spaces at ground floor. A colourful palette was selected for the aluminium cladding at ground level and complementary coloured zinc panelling was added to the upper level. The playfulness of the coloured planes creates a distinct composition of individual homes whilst at the same time expressing a connected community. The result is a collaged, animated street with identity for the residents.

Architectural wireframe rendering of a modern, multi-story building with a linear layout and flat roofs.

A COURTYARD HOUSE TYPE THAT KEEPS EVERYONE HAPPY

This practical yet clever typology keeps the visual bulk modest while reducing overlooking of neighbours.

Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood with houses, trees, streets, and a distant city skyline under a partly cloudy sky.
Close-up view of a modern building's exterior with vertical metal panels in various shades of silver, gray, and brown, with a clear blue sky and a tree in the background.
Modern building with vertical metal paneling and shadows cast by nearby trees.
Modern kitchen with gray cabinets, white upper cabinets, a window, countertop with a plant and toaster, and a wooden floor.

DAYLIGHT AND COLOUR

A clerestory window runs the length of the street, punctuating the upper storey from the ground and offering significant light levels to the living spaces at ground floor. To create further interest, a colourful palette was selected for the aluminium cladding at ground level and complementary coloured zinc panelling was added to the upper level. The playfulness of the coloured planes creates a distinct composition of individual homes whilst at the same time expressing a connected community. The result is a collaged, animated street with identity for the residents.

A modern building with grey and red exterior walls, a large window, trees casting shadows, and a person standing outside facing the door.
Modern building with large vertical window, red door and doors, tree, and person walking with a child outside in sunlight.
Modern kitchen with dark gray lower cabinets, white upper cabinets, wooden handles, a black countertop, and open wooden shelves with jars. Features a built-in oven, stainless steel kettle, sink, and decorative plant. Wooden herringbone floor and white tiled backsplash.
A woman walking along a pathway with modern colorful buildings and lush greenery.
Modern apartment buildings with colorful metallic siding in shades of gray, blue, brown, and orange, with a man walking on the sidewalk beside them.

LOCATION

Croydon, UK

SIZE

6,400 sqft

STATUS

Completed in 2021

CLIENT

Brick by Brick, London Borough of Croydon

AWARDS

/ Housing Design Award, Croydon Smaller Sites Programme – won
/ New London Award, Croydon Smaller Sites Programme – won