Lawrie Park Avenue, London SE26

This beautiful five-bedroom house lies on a quiet, tree-lined avenue to the north of Crystal Palace Park in Sydenham. The house is set back from the road behind a large driveway, ensuring a feeling of exceptional privacy. Designed by Angus Shepherd of Powell Tuck Associates, the plan extends over 2,600 sq ft across three storeys. Clean lines and a minimal palette merge harmoniously with the original fabric of the building. The kitchen has been thoughtfully extended, with glazed curtain doors opening onto the garden at the rear and an outdoor dining area in the front garden.

The Architect
Powell Tuck Associates are an award-winning architectural practice, best known for repurposing, restoring and retrofitting existing buildings to create projects at the forefront of contemporary design. Using cutting-edge materials and practices, it creates buildings that stand the test of time with a minimal carbon footprint. Founded by Julian Powell Tuck in 1990, the practice has been based in west London since 2002. In 2010 the founder handed the reins to Directors Adrian Lees and Angus Shepherd, who have worked at the practice since its founding.

The Tour

The house is accessed via a large driveway and front garden. Upon entry, the central hallway is bathed in light that pours in from three aspects. On the left lies the main living area, which adjoins an open-plan kitchen. There is a wonderful sense of flow on this floor, and design elements such as the concrete floor in the kitchen and hardwood floorboards in the living area demarcate the spaces.

The kitchen and dining room is positioned at the left of the plan. The attention to detail and craftsmanship found throughout the home is characterised here by a wall of cabinetry that runs along an entire wall; the grain of the wood matches seamlessly across the components. A large concrete island houses a hob and sink, creating a highly sociable space where food preparation and entertaining can be undertaken simultaneously with ease. Natural light abounds care of a glass roof and sliding glazed doors that span the width of the room and open out to the garden at both the front and rear of the space.

To the right, there is a family room and snug, which also benefits from glazed curtain doors that open onto the garden. In the summer months, the whole rear of the house can open up, blurring the boundaries between inside and out. At the front of the plan is a study; here, the ceiling has been stripped, revealing raw concrete below.

Ascending the sharp lines of the staircase, four bedrooms occupy the first floor; all are good-sized, providing ample accommodation. There is a large family bathroom and a walk-in shower room.

In contrast to the first staircase, the ply stairs to the second floor are closed, with walls finished in the same material, creating a cocoon-like feel; an aperture at the turn of the stairs provides a glimpse down to the front garden.

The second floor is given over entirely to the main suite. The large bedroom has sliding glazed doors that open onto a Juliette balcony. A large en suite lies to the left of the plan; a tranquil space, it is finished in Greek marble and has sliding pocket doors. The shower is bathed in light care of a glass roof. Doors from the en suite open to a large dressing room, which can also be accessed from the landing, creating a circular flow between the spaces.

Outdoor Space

The driveway and front garden are landscaped; mature planting obscures the house from the street, and a large carport lies to the right. An outdoor dining area is concealed behind large shrubs.

Sliding doors open from the kitchen and dining area to a slate terrace and the private garden. The terrace space is perfect for eating and entertaining alfresco in the summer. Recessed planters surround a turfed lawn; filled with native and subtropical species, they bound the perimiter, ensuring the garden feels enclosed and secluded. To the right, there is a summerhouse, which could be easily converted to serve as an additional home office.

The Area

The house is located on the upper heights of Sydenham, on one of the premier streets. So notable is Lawrie Park Avenue, it was painted by Camille Pissarro in 1871. Local attractions include Dulwich and Sydenham Golf Club, The Dulwich Picture Gallery, The Horniman Museum and the local town centres of Crystal Palace and Dulwich Village. The Grade II-listed Crystal Palace Park is under a five-minute walk away, home to a farm and boating lake.

Crystal Palace, which was named by The Sunday Times as the best place to live in London (2022), is a 15-minute walk away and is a vibrant area with award-winning restaurants and bars as well as having a thriving art and music scene. There is a farmers market every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, as well as art and film festivals throughout the year. Local favourite establishments include Joanna’s restaurant, Walters Bar & Kitchen, Woodhouse pub and the Everyman Cinema.

Dulwich Village is a 15-minute walk from the house, and the street is well placed for OFSTED-rated “outstanding’” primary and secondary state schools as well as some of the best private schools in London.

Lawrie Park Avenue is located a short walk from both Sydenham and Penge East stations. Penge East station runs services to London Victoria (13 minutes), Blackfriars (20 minutes) and City Thameslink/Farringdon (22 minutes). Connecting trains (via Sydenham) will take you to Canada Water in 20 minutes and Shoreditch High Street in 30 minutes. Sydenham runs frequent Overground services.

Council Tax Band: G