Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 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

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
×