Court View, Lambourne Avenue, Wimbledon

Designed by local architect Andrew Harper and built by Indigo Developments, an LABC three time ‘House of the Year’ winner, Court View has been nominated for the Times House of the Year and a Royal Institute of British Architects award.

The Not So Common Common.

Probably two of the most famous landmarks in Wimbledon are Wimbledon Common, where the Wombles made their home, Doctor Who visited and aliens battled it out in War of the Worlds. Of course it’s also where the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament is held every summer, so there is no wonder the area is such a desirable location and where residents old and new demand high quality and performance from their homes.

The Concept – A Contemporary Vision

When Mrs Mansfield, the owner of the modest plot of land at 14 Lambourne Avenue, first met with Andrew Harper Architects the brief was clear from the outset; she was looking for a contemporary house for a large family, flexible for use as the family grows and develops over time. One which maximises the sloping site and views across London whilst incorporating the latest environmental standards in design, materials and technology.

A major part of the brief was to deliver a property that not only took advantage of available technologies but one that also maximised the site and layout of the new home; ensuring the positive effects of the external environment had a beneficial impact on the house. This was achieved with careful planning and consideration by Andrew Harper and his team providing shading for the house through strategic landscaping and room orientation and in the utilisation of natural light to light and heat the property.

With a large amount of natural light required for a contemporary look, it was a essential that the home stayed energy efficient despite the vast amounts of glazing being used. After much research and sampling different types of glazing, Saint Gobain Diamant glass renowned for its high transparency levels and excellent direction of heat from the sun (passive solar gain) was selected.