Self build project by Bricolage

Product - Ketley quarry tiles in dark multi and Classic brown brindle square edged pavers.

Architect - Will Howard Bricolage

Castlands Road is an inspiring self‑build project in Catford, South London, created by architect Will Howard and his partner after they were priced out of the local housing market. With no viable route to buying a family home, they turned to an unconventional opportunity: a neighbour’s unused garden plot. Planning proved to be relatively easy to secure for a contemporary house in this location, but finding builders they could afford was more of a issue.  The couple therefore embarked on this project taking on many of the roles themselves, including that of project manager, main contractor and labourer.  They also drew on available skills from close family members and only hired outside contractors for key specialist roles such as bricklaying and carpentry.

They created a "terrace in waiting", a 23ft wide house, the entire width of their plot, with no side windows which could theortically be made into a terrace in the future.   They prioritised a palette of low‑carbon, high quality materials, good insulation and MVHR air quality.  They left the aesthetic inside raw and unfinished, with exposed steel beams and larch joists,  partly to save money and partly to keep it simple for their 4 year old son to better understand how the house was built.  Bricks were sourced from site leftovers and salvaged stock to be both more sustainable and more affordable, but Ketley quarry tiles floors and clay paving were one of the materials that the couple decided to splash out on. They knew Ketley's quarry tiles from the Barbican in London and wanted their flooring to be durable and hard wearing.