Suzanne Brewer by Rachael Smith

SUZANNE BREWER HOUSE, GREENWICH, LONDON

Photographs Rachael Smith

Words Dominic Bradbury

Architect Suzanne Brewer introduced a touch of Californian style inside-outside living to Greenwich with this self-designed home arranged around a hidden courtyard garden. Brewer has useful experience dealing with tricky urban sites and after deciding that she and her young family needed more living space and a larger garden, she managed to find this secret spot that used to host a row of rickety garages alongside a mews.

Brewer came up with an innovative plan to replace the garages with an L-shaped family home arranged around the courtyard, which offers a sheltered and secure outdoor playroom for Brewer’s children and an outdoor dining room for the summer months. The main living spaces are contained within a dramatic open plan space, where a sequence of floor to ceiling windows slide back to dissolve the relationship between indoors and out. A double sided fireplace and hearth, made of slim Danish brick, serves both the lounge and Brewer’s study beyond.

Upstairs, there are three bedrooms overlooking the garden, while a green roof and solar panels on the single storey section of the building help confirm the house’s green credentials