Join us on Saturday 16th May for a tour around 2 Regal Lane.
This self-built house was among the first projects tackled by the architect John Winter following his return to London after a period working in the United States. Inspired by his experience of assisting colleagues in New England on the construction of their self-built houses, he bought the end-of-terrace site, which was occupied by two garages and overlooks Regent’s Park, for £700.
The architect’s original plan to demolish the garages was frustrated by the council’s insistence that any new building would have to be 5ft back from the existing site boundary. He therefore developed a project that retained the garage walls, enabling it to be treated as a conversion.
The house incorporated two compact bedrooms and a bath-room on the ground floor, a generously glazed living area above and a rooftop kitchen and dining area that opened onto terraces on both its north and south aspects. All this was accommodated on the footprint of one of the garages – an area of just 23ft by 15ft – and realised at the exceptionally low build cost of £1,300.
Photographs: Matthew Blunderfield
Location and time:
Date: Saturday 16th May
Time: 10:30-13:00
Location: 2 Regal Ln, London NW1 7TH
Accessibility: This building is a private house and the first & second floor are only accessible via a narrow spiral staircase. If you have any further questions, please email amy@architecturefoundation.org.uk
