Spruce House & Studio by ao-ft: A Cross-Laminated Timber Home and Design Studio in East London

A First Project that Defines an Architectural Vision

Spruce House & Studio is the debut completed project of London-based practice ao-ft—and it sets a clear tone for their architectural ethos. Situated on a former infill site within a Walthamstow conservation area, the project replaces a deteriorating 1960s structure with a new-build cross-laminated timber (CLT) home and design studio.

The design embodies ao-ft’s commitment to sustainable construction, technical rigor, and human-centered detail, delivering a home that minimizes carbon footprint, fosters well-being, and reconnects its occupants with nature and light.

Reviving the Historic High Street

Once a village high street, the site now reflects a patchwork of housing types, many converted from retail over the past century. In response, ao-ft reimagined Spruce House as a contemporary shopfront, continuing the rhythm of the street while offering a new identity.

The façade is layered with vertical timber battens, glazing, and custom privacy screens. This creates a textural rhythm between the ground and upper levels while filtering views into the home. From the street, glimpses of the leafy rear garden connect the architecture to its context, giving depth and transparency to the urban fabric.

Cross-Laminated Timber Construction

The main structure is built from custom-milled prefabricated CLT panels, chosen for their environmental performance, structural efficiency, and aesthetic qualities. The exposed spruce panels:

• Sequester and store 37 tonnes of CO₂.
• Were assembled on site in just five days.
• Remove the need for plaster or paint finishes, minimizing additional materials and plastic use.

This approach results in a warm, tactile interior where the structure itself defines the atmosphere. The precision of prefabrication ensures longevity and reduces waste—underscoring ao-ft’s dedication to sustainable urban housing solutions.

Living Spaces Embedded in the Garden

A key design move was lowering the ground floor 50 cm below street level, creating a sunken living room that aligns visually with the garden beds. This decision establishes a seamless indoor-outdoor relationship, where nature becomes part of daily life.

The open-plan ground floor includes:

• Living area with cast concrete window seats framing garden views.
• Sunken dining and stainless-steel kitchen, designed as one continuous furniture-like installation.
• Built-in joinery that conceals storage, media units, and a WC, maintaining clear sightlines.

The layout echoes the typology of a Victorian terrace house, reinterpreted for modern needs and sustainability.

Material Expression and Light

Inside, raw and refined materials—spruce timber, polished concrete, stainless steel, perforated white steel—create a palette that celebrates light, texture, and shadow. Daylight filters through perforated steel stair treads and skylights, animating the house throughout the day.

The bespoke staircase, made from 24 interlocking laser-cut steel pieces, acts as the spine of the house, combining industrial precision with artisanal assembly.

Flexible, Light-Filled Private Spaces

The upper floors accommodate three bedrooms and two bathrooms, designed for flexibility and privacy. Openable solid spruce panels transform the façade’s appearance while allowing light and air to reshape the interiors. This detail demonstrates ao-ft’s dedication to designing both functional and expressive architecture.

A Studio and Garden as Extension of Home

At the rear of the 12-meter garden, a separate design studio completes the project. Constructed from timber framing with larch glulam beams and exposed spruce interiors, the studio features clerestory windows and cross-ventilation, creating a tranquil, light-filled workspace.

The garden, carefully landscaped with pollinator-friendly plants, becomes both a biodiversity habitat and a connecting element between house and studio—an urban oasis that enhances well-being and ecological resilience.

A Benchmark for Infill Housing

Spruce House & Studio is more than a first project—it is a manifesto for ao-ft. By combining sustainable construction methods, adaptable living spaces, and architectural precision, the project demonstrates how London’s infill sites can be reimagined as low-carbon, contextually sensitive, and life-enhancing homes.

This house is not only a residence and workspace but a model for the future of urban living in the UK, where CLT architecture and eco-conscious design redefine the possibilities of compact city plots.

All the photographs are works of Rory Gardiner