pH+ has completed its
contemporary housing scheme that
follows the sloping topography
of Muswell Hill in north London.
Divided into three separate
sections, Pinnacle N10 is the
product of a detailed analysis
of the local Edwardian context,
with a modular reinterpretation
of the surrounding housing stock
that has been applauded by the
resident Conservation Officer.
This response to the characterful
neighbouring houses has driven the
design, which shifts and changes as
the development descends the hill,
addressing specific site conditions.
The first section of the project
is a conversion of an existing
building into eight new flats, with
a community and commercial
space below. This was originally
intended to house the CPotential
school for children with cerebral
palsy, which has now moved to a
nearby site and is in the process of
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fundraising for a new-build timber
structure also designed by pH+. In
the latter and central part of the
scheme, six new modular houses
now step down the hill, broken up
by a series of deep recesses that
form terraces for the occupants.
These reveals are lined with metal
panels that change colour for
each property and the palette
continues onto interior details,
providing each home with its own
identity. In the third and final part
of the development, a horizontal
block contains 14 apartments and
features a distinct sawtooth profile
at the rear, designed to extend
views for residents and required
to prevent overlooking of the
neighbouring gardens.
Pinnacle N10 features carefully
selected materials that are used in
sensitive and pragmatic ways. The
detailing had to be of the highest
calibre to address the quality of the
local context.