London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2025

This ultra modern house on stilts is unlike anything we've ever seen before

This ultra modern house on stilts is unlike anything we've ever seen before

This modern house on stilts lets in plenty of light while also offering complete privacy from the street and neighbouring properties
The property


This new-build modern home in South East London was built by Gruff for their director Rhys and his young family.

Spanning 1,631 square feet, the four-bedroom family home incorporates a lot of clever design ideas that Gruff architecture studio have learned over the years.

Located in a conservation area and bounded on one side by a railway cutting, the site posed many design and logistical challenges. The first floor is clad in black timber boards and is pitched 10 degrees away from the boundaries in order to diminish the perceived mass of the building from the neighbouring gardens.

                                

The structure


A technically challenging and tight back land site, the plot became known to the practice as the yard of a local builder, with whom Gruff had worked on numerous projects previously.

                                

                                

With glazing only on the side and rear elevations, and no windows on the front elevation helps to privacy from the rear of the neighbouring houses. The property’s main view is of the tree-lined railway cutting. With no immediate buildings in this direction, this offers the house a panoramic vista of ‘private green space’; a rare commodity in a built-up suburban area of London.

Meanwhile, a contiguous piled concrete basement offers additional living space and a guest bedroom.

                                

Entrance


The property's entrance is tucked away down the side of the structure.

                                

Ground floor


Once inside, there's an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space, with views out to the garden.

                                

                                

Whimsical, fun and, at times suitably indulgent, the project has brought together collective ideas from the whole office, and was a great opportunity to test and execute a variety of ideas developed throughout the practice’s history.

The property is full of carefully considered details, from the modern banister that creates a safe staircase while also keeping a sense of open space, to the smaller details like the light switches, and the door handle on the pocket door under the stairs.

Kitchen area


The L-shaped kitchen features a galley-style kitchen to the side, and a small kitchen island at the centre, complete with breakfast bar – making this a sociable space.

                                

                                

Although small, every detail was carefully considered. We love the wood carving in the wine glass shelf, and the terrazzo countertops.

                                

Garden


Through the main living space is a garden, with a semi-circle shape, and a modern border fence.

                                

                                

Snug


At ground level there's also a cosy snug, with a corner sofa and TV.

                                

                                

                                

A small courtyard acts as a light-well to allow for natural daylight, and creates a more interesting view.

Bedroom


Upstairs, the sloped walls are highlighted with clever design details like the sloped windows that create interesting vignettes.

                                

A half wall of storage divides the bedroom from a spacious walk-in bathroom. The bookcase wall incorporates a horizontal window into the bathroom space, framing the garden view beyond.

                                

Bathroom


But the walk-in shower remains private, and out of sight from the bedroom. A monochrome colour palette and black bathroom taps give this master bathroom a thoroughly modern feel.

                                

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×