SUNFLEX-Wall-Systems LP

Benbow Yard / FORMstudio

FORMstudio’s recently completed Benbow Yard project in Southwark, London, responds directly to the Mayor of London’s policy promoting the reuse of small sites to help meet the city’s housing needs. Located on a tight, irregular brownfield plot formerly occupied by a metalworks, the site presented narrow access, limited outlook, and daylight constraints that shaped the design of two new-build, 2-storey, 3-bedroom courtyard houses. With barrel-vaulted profiles and semi-submerged forms to reduce visual impact, the first floor on the east side is set back to create an extensive sedum roof that enhances light and views between the buildings. Windows are oriented south to maximize natural light and preserve privacy, while living spaces at the lower level open onto private courtyards. The ground floors are clad in contemporary pale brick and the upper barrel-vaulted storeys in zinc standing-seam cladding, referencing the industrial heritage of the site with refined detailing for a sense of quality and substance. Careful orientation ensures interiors are flooded with daylight despite the compact site, while FORMstudio’s signature attention to spatial flow creates seamless connections between internal and external spaces. Imaginative landscaping further enhances the experience, providing generous and unexpected views, making the project a thoughtful, high-quality response to both local housing policy and the site’s unique challenges.