FEATURED ON
RIBA Journal

Butterfield is a progressive material intervention applied to a post-war London terrace. Moving beyond the conventional domestic addition, the project is conceived as a study in material intelligence and monolithic construction.

The architecture is defined by the use of Porotherm, a cellular clay block system traditionally reserved for commercial applications. Driven by the studio’s internal academic research, the material is used as a singular architectural mechanism: simultaneously acting as structure, thermal envelope, and final interior finish. By stripping away secondary linings and conventional insulation, the exposed clay blocks establish a raw, tactile spatial identity that enters into a direct dialogue with the home's original 1970s brickwork.

Externally, in an experimental process developed with the manufacturer, the units are sliced and to form a bespok exterior cladding.

The approach to construction prioritizes structural efficiency. To negotiate the site's historic ground conditions, the volume rests on a precision-engineered, lightweight screw-pile foundation, minimizing environmental disruption while maintaining a definitive, low-impact footprint. Complemented by site-fabricated timber joinery, Butterfield operates as a statement on how research-led material innovation can dictate form, atmosphere, and architectural integrity at small scale.

CREDITS
Structural Engineering - Blue Engineering
Main Contractor - YG Builders
Kitchen - Husk
Photography - Henry Woide
Styling - Beth Golding