London Fields West, London E8

Positioned on the corner of London Fields is this exceptional three-bedroom house, designed by the brilliant architectural practice, Chance de Silva. A signature palette of raw concrete and galvanised steel permeates the interior to create a set of unique and expressive living spaces. The house is crowned with a spacious roof terrace with far-reaching views across the much-loved park and the surrounding terraces that define this corner of east London.

The Architect

Chance de Silva specialise in contemporary one-off houses. The practice often collaborates with artists, musicians or performers on their designs, including Vex, a fluted concrete house created with the musician Scanner. They have been exhibited at the Venice Biennale and their work has been the subject of TV features in the UK and France, and on BBC Radio.

The Modern House has long collaborated with the practice, including on Venus in Highbury.

The Building

The building's idiosyncratic triangular shape cuts a dramatic street-level profile. Predominantly clad in red ochre zinc and yellow brick, its palette of materials has been chosen to respond to (and contemporise) the surrounding vernacular of London Fields. The building is made up of two houses, both with their own front doors and balconies that overlook the park beyond. Moments from the park, its lido, and Broadway Market, it marks a rare opportunity to live in immediate proximity to one of east London's favourite green spaces.

The Tour

Entry to the house is from the street, where the front door opens to a lobby area with soaring ceilings and plenty of space for coats and shoes.

To the right lies the bedroom or office with an en suite shower room, illuminated by floor-to-ceiling frosted windows at the front and a cleverly placed skylight. Limestone tiles ground the rooms across this floor, warmed from beneath by underfloor heating.

Two further double bedrooms sit upstairs, both with wooden floors that bring warmth to concrete-clad, white-washed walls. A striking zig-zag storage wall in the main bedroom doubles as a useful shelf for books. Subtle pastel shades of green and yellow have been applied to the doors and the bathrooms.

The living, kitchen and dining spaces occupy the entirety of the second floor. The elevated position works with triple-aspect windows to frame leafy vignettes of the surrounding area, including London Fields opposite. Great care has been taken to perfectly angle the windows in the room for optimal privacy. The kitchen stretches the breadth of the wall on one side, with a minimal, understated grey cabinetry that sits in harmony with the rest of the interior palette. Glazed doors lead out to a balcony at the front. The main bathroom completes this floor's plan.

A ladder ascends to the top floor; with plenty of bespoke shelving, it would make for a perfect study or home office. Glazed doors surround the space, creating a seamless sense of flow between indoors and out.

Outdoor Space

The house has several places to sit and enjoy the outdoors. Upstairs, a balcony unfolds from the living areas and looks over the green expanse of London Fields beyond. Shrouded in natural sunlight due to its south-west orientation, this area is an ideal suntrap and a perfect spot to sit and read.

A roof terrace crowns the top of the building. Laid with decking and enclosed with a steel balustrade, it wraps around offering many vantage points to sit and enjoy the view. There is plenty of space for a table and chairs, and further planting opportunities to create a peaceful, elevated oasis in the heart of east London.

The Area

The building is excellently located in central Hackney, just to the west of the popular London Fields and bustling Mare Street, and close to the green spaces of Victoria Park and the Regent’s Canal path.

There are many fantastic cafés and restaurants locally, notably Pophams and Lardo on Richmond Road, Little Duck The Picklery and Angelina on Dalston Lane, Elliot’s on Mare Street, and Pidgin and Violet on Wilton Way. There is an overwhelming sense of community in the area, with weekly markets at Victoria Park and Well Street, as well as on Broadway Market, which has a reputation for some excellent places to eat and drink. E5 Bakehouse, on the edge of London Fields, is excellent for freshly baked artisan bread and grains.

Kingsland Road is a short walk away with all that Dalston has to offer, including Brilliant Corners, The Jago and The Dusty Knuckle. The Talbot and The Spurstowe Arms are among local favourite pubs.

London Fields Station is a 5-minute walk away, offering regular overground services to Liverpool Street. It also provides easy connections to Hackney Central and Dalston Junction, which forms part of the East London Overground extension, with routes into Highbury & Islington. There are excellent buses in the area, including those that run from nearby Kingsland Road to London Bridge.

Tenure: Share of Freehold
Lease Length: Approx. 999 years remaining
Service Charge: TBC
Council Tax Band: E