Belair Cottages, the listed Duliwich residency recently sold
Cottages is a Grade II listed building in Southwark, renovated fifteen years ago and was recently on the market. Obtaining Planning, Listed Building and Dulwich Estate Scheme of Management Approval was required to both convert and extend the existing building transforming 4 council flats into a single private dwelling.
The residence is located in one of the first conservation areas in Southwark, the Dulwich Village Conservation Area. The listed building comprises of two structures connected with the Belair House; a Georgian building built in 1795. The Belair Cottages were originally constructed as the coach house for the Belair House. The surrounding Belair Park is reputed for its sense of openness and greenery, coupled with buildings from the mid-18th century, views along streets, as well as other townscape characteristics.
Due to the sites location within a public open space there were restrictions with new buildings on the site. The extensions therefore had to be skillfully proposed with a new pavilion structure to the garden and guest wing to the front approach creating a private and secluded courtyard. To maximise the new floor area a basement extension was designed beneath the existing garden area with swimming pool, media room and gym. Alterations to the existing building included a new central staircase and entrance and a row of new arched windows created within the existing piers to the front elevation a reference to its former stables use. The existing roof walls and windows were restored and replaced preserving the original appearance of this unique property.
Internally the poorly converted flats were transformed into a modern, flexible living space suitable for a family with interconnected living spaces creating a fluid ground floor living area visually connected to the private landscaped gardens maintaining privacy from the surrounding public park. Natural daylight was subtly introduced with an apex roof light above the stair well, linear skylight to the pavilion defining the junction between old and new and pop up skylights to the extension’s patternated copper roof.
The successfully integration of the traditional characteristics of the existing building with the new extensions transformed the property which has been subsequently sold on to its proud new owners.
