Bushey Hill Road, London, SE5

The extensive portfolio of Manser Medal-winning architects, Knox Bhavan, has a notable thread of virtues that run through each project; that of the love of materials, simplicity of form, sensitivity to the environment, and detail in workmanship. In this 19th-century townhouse on the borders of Camberwell and Peckham, the architects have added to those qualities with considered preservation of historical aspects and joyful elements in palette and spatial interaction.

The house is situated at the quiet midpoint of Bushey Hill Road, among the handsome terraces of substantial Victorian houses between Camberwell Grove and Bellenden Road. Its front facade is traditional and subtle, set back from the pavement behind a shaped bay tree and a wall of wisteria that climbs above the first floor windows, making its gorgeous lilac exclamation in early spring.

This particular style of house offers an unusually wide plan; almost six metres across, with excellent volume throughout. A generous hallway, filled with light from transom windows, sidelites and glazed panels makes an impactful entrance. This is the first indication of the preserved; modillion and ornate ceiling roses three metres above.

The reception rooms are combined to provide an open view from the front bay window to the rear of the garden. Oak floorboards run underfoot. The front reception area is arranged around an open fireplace, and is reserved in this particular setup for reading, with custom shelving in the alcoves. Beneath them are low, cast-iron radiators. Above, the ceiling is painted red, providing a datum with artwork and furniture, and increasing the intimacy of the space.

Double French windows open to a sheltered side-return; a loggia of sorts that connects the double reception to the kitchen and dining room, providing a wonderful flow between the ground-floor rooms and beautifully planted garden.

The kitchen is stepped down, and upon entrance from the hallway through a stained-glass door, this raised position offers a spectacle. The garden is framed in a large picture window and dances in the mirrored sides of cabinetry around the window frame. It's a wonderful device of refractions and reflections, particularly in morning light, and with its bold colour scheme the room has a fantastic kaleidoscopic effect on the senses.

Within the dining space is a window seat and two large panes that open fully to the loggia, creating an extra room in the warmer months and interaction with the reception rooms. The floors are a hard-wearing, heated, fossiliferous Purpeck blue marble, becoming slate outside. Cabinetry is cherrywood, worktops are stainless steel and a Wolf range sits beneath them.

The house approaches 3,000 sq ft in all and includes a large, tanked basement which can be used as a games room, cinema and for storage. There are five bedrooms on the upper levels, and even the smallest is a good-sized double.

At the rear of the first floor, above the kitchen, is a guest WC, a large bathroom with masses of storage and a separate shower. This leads on to a utility/sewing room with a lovely view of the garden and neighbouring canopies.

The master bedroom is on the top floor and is quite dramatic in its elevation. As the house is not only wide but tall, it receives light for a large proportion of the day, and this through a wall of glazing. The view of the cityscape is panoramic. The room is reached via an open-tread, floating plywood staircase that culminates in a yellow balustrade with a negative motif of Le Corbusier's 'open hand'. The bed is positioned centrally to allow for a dressing area behind, and there is an en-suite shower room beyond it, clad in Carrara marble.

Nearby

Being midway along a quiet residential street but only a few minutes' walk from both Camberwell Church Street and Bellenden Road really is the finest positioning. Church Street has lots of independent restaurants, cafés and delis like Toad Bakery, The Daily Goods coffee shop, Theo's Pizza, and Gladwell's Grocery and some delectable international cuisine. There is a weekly farmers' market on Camberwell Green.

Ganapati South Indian Kitchen, Artusi, Persepolis and the Begging Bowl are all on Bellenden Road. So is General Store for excellent fresh food. Forza wine is round the corner for rooftop drinks and dining and there is so much on offer in Copeland Park and Bussey Building.

The pubs in the area are renowned and plentiful; The Camberwell Arms is hard to beat for its culinary offerings, but Grove House Tavern, The Montpellier, The White Horse are all great for drinks and Sunday roasts. Jazzlive at The Crypt can be found on Camberwell Church Street and is one of the UK's best jazz clubs.

For green spaces, Peckham Rye Park, Ruskin Park and Burgess Park are all close by, and for dog walking and playgrounds, Warwick Gardens is at the end of the road.

There are several excellent state and public schools in the area, including Dulwich College, James Allen's Girls' School, Alleyn's School, The Villa Pre-Prep and Nursery, and Dog Kennel Hill Primary School.

Transport

Peckham Rye is the closest station, running London Overground services. National Rail services to London Bridge only take seven minutes, connecting you to Northern and Jubilee lines. It also offers Thameslink services to London Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras International.