Urban Retreat
A contemporary urban infill home that demonstrates how thoughtful design, natural materials and carefully detailed timber glazing can create a light-filled and welcoming living environment on a compact site.
The Brief
Designed by Terrence Design, this southeast London infill project transforms a narrow gap between existing buildings into a contemporary family home. The ambition was to create a bright and generous living environment using a simple palette of brick, timber and glass to maximise both space and natural light.
Timber glazing was central to the architectural vision, with carefully positioned windows, a sliding door and an entrance door helping to strengthen the connection between the interior and the outdoor spaces.
The Challenge
Working within the constraints of a compact urban site, the design required a glazing solution that felt generous and architectural while remaining aligned with the project’s budget. Maximising daylight and maintaining a strong connection to the patio were key objectives.
Ecovia supplied Vantage Classic windows, a sliding door and entrance door in our Honey Grain finish – a warm timber finish applied to pine that delivers a rich, natural appearance. Crucially, the Vantage Classic system enabled the architects to incorporate a contemporary sliding door rather than resorting to hinged doors, preserving the intended design while remaining commercially viable.
The Outcome
The completed home demonstrates how intelligent specification and thoughtful design can elevate a compact urban site. Natural light fills the interiors, while the combination of brick, timber cladding and Honey Grain glazing creates a calm and cohesive architectural language throughout.
Urban Retreat is a compelling example of how high-quality timber glazing can deliver warmth, character and architectural quality without unnecessary complexity, creating a home that feels both refined and welcoming.
The triple-glazed performance of Ecovia's system was fundamental to this project. Sitting adjacent to a tap room, the home needed to deliver genuine acoustic and thermal separation without any compromise to the design quality — the slim sightlines and warm timber detailing gave us exactly the architectural character we were looking for.
Oliver Partington, Director, Terrence Design
