LOWER HAM
Kingston upon Thames | Surrey
Lower Ham is situated on the banks of the river Thames in Kingston upon Thames. Behind the nine metre glazed facade, key living spaces frame the special river aspect, whilst the master bedroom suite on the top floor benefits from panoramic views all the way from Kingston to Teddington lock.
What is not so apparent from the street front is the secret and serene courtyard garden and reflecting pond which are wrapped within the ‘U’ shaped ground floor. The sense of indoors and outdoors blend seamlessly when sliding doors are pulled back with the kitchen and informal living space opening directly onto this zone. As a result, there is a great sense of interconnectivity and transparency where careful space planning has constructed axial views from the river to the rear garden.
A processional entrance sequence leads gently up to the oversized brass front door from the street. Red brickwork, lime mortar and a colour matched concrete coping combine as a heavy anchoring ground floor architecture that is contrasted by the vertical tower’s more delicate timber lattice work. The home seeks to provide a contemporary visual extension of the overall street architecture; echoing and mimicking the pre-eminent constructions with a clear vertical emphasis to the home.
Connecting the floors in the tower is a feature steel staircase which hangs domineeringly in a double height space. The ascent affords views back over the central courtyard, sedum roof and rear garden. The home is rich with detail combining a dark polished concrete floor, vertical oak cladding and moody internal finishes in a spare palette with accent paint colours, metalwork and beautifully fitted bathrooms.
Photography by Lorenzo Zandri
RIBA AWARDS JUDGE CITATION
Making the very most of a beautiful riverside setting, Lower Ham by Fletcher Crane Architects is a perfectly balanced response to a spectacular site and the specific needs of a new family home. Situated a short distance north of Kingston upon Thames, this house suggests an alternative riverside vernacular amid the assortment of bungalows and period properties that front this stretch of water.
Approaching the site, at a slight raise and curve in the road, the striking three-storey tower element with 9m-high glazing sitting on a raised ground-floor plinth is entirely unexpected. To one side a basement garage is accessed by a steep drive, and to the other, a sequence of processional steps leads to a large, bespoke brass front door.
Once inside, the surprises keep coming. Within the ‘tower’ are stacked three principal spaces for dining, living and, at the top, a master bedroom suite with a stunning west-facing aspect over the river. Double-height sliding doors connect the interior to a planted terrace to the front, while behind is the other big move – a tranquil courtyard inspired by the clients’ life in Hong Kong, around which is wrapped the rest of the house.
This single-storey building contains an office, a large open-plan kitchen and four further bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, overlooking a private walled garden in the English tradition. The ground-floor spaces flow easily from one to the other, and from inside to out.
The design skilfully balances a very open aspect that makes the most of the dramatic views over the Thames, with the privacy and intimacy of a close family unit accustomed to hosting and entertaining large numbers of visitors. It is easy to imagine fantastic parties enjoying sunsets over the Thames, or peaceful meals in the courtyard, accompanied by the soothing trickle of the water feature.
The detailing and materials are handled confidently throughout, again with the influence of the clients’ English and Hong Kong roots evident. This is a house that quite clearly came into being through a creative partnership between architect and client: their mutual trust and admiration was evident throughout the jury’s visit.
The huge areas of glazing ensure the house is awash with natural light, while large openings and east-west orientation help to minimise the risk of overheating and provide plenty of natural ventilation. The structural steelwork is wrapped in a thermal cloak, and exposed brick floors provide thermal mass to stabilise internal temperatures. The discreetly located air-source heat pump provides an efficient underfloor heating system, while mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) ensures superior indoor air quality.
Originally commissioned in 2014, the project overcame a few planning challenges with the help of some friendly neighbourly support, and reached completion in 2023. It is unashamedly modern and confidently stands out from its more traditional neighbours, but it is easy to see why it has become accepted as a popular local landmark.
PRESS + AWARDS
RIBA London Award 2025 | Winner
RIBA Journal | 'Lower Ham by Fletcher Crane Architects
Architects' Journal | 'RIBA London awards 2025: all 38 winners revealed'
Architects' Journal | 'RIBA London awards 2025'
PROJECT TEAM
CLIENT | Private
CONTRACTOR | Main Contracts
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER | Harrison Shortt
APPROVED INSPECTOR | Salus