Architect James Davies and his partner Sophie Ellis-Hayle have completed a four-year project to transform a neglected 40-square-meter plot in Hackney, east London, into an eco-friendly home they call Greenview House. The site, which included a dilapidated commercial mechanics’ unit and a tyre-strewn yard adjacent to Butterfield Green park, was purchased in March 2020 for £280,000, just before the UK entered its first Covid-19 lockdown.

Davies, 42, who established his architectural practice Paper House Project in 2012, had been actively searching for a suitable building site in Stoke Newington, east London, for years. His ambition was to create a “treehouse” style dwelling, inspired by a childhood fascination with elevated living spaces nestled among trees. Together with Ellis-Hayle, 34, a print designer, the couple set out to build a sustainable, light-filled home with a cross-laminated timber (CLT) frame aimed at creating a highly airtight and energy-efficient structure.

The construction process proved more complex and time-consuming than initially anticipated. Davies had originally estimated a two-year timeline for planning and construction but faced multiple obstacles that extended the project to four years. These included a Hackney council planning application delay of 19 months caused in part by a data breach at the council, rising material costs triggered by the war in Ukraine, and challenges related to neighboring properties. The adjoining Butterfield House site, acquired by another architect, added an element of collaboration to the undertaking. By pooling resources, both parties were able to reduce carbon footprints and costs, including shared party walls and more efficient concrete use below ground.

Construction officially began in January 2022, with the CLT superstructure erected in just five days, necessitating temporary road closures in the area. The project also involved relocating underground services—done without prior permission—which caused further difficulties. A separate access route connecting Greenview House to neighboring properties was purchased for approximately £20,000 and now serves communal functions including energy metering, bike and bin storage, and housing an air source heat pump.

Greenview House is arranged over three floors, featuring an unconventional upside-down layout. The lower ground floor houses bedrooms and a compact shower room with efficient storage solutions under the stairs, designed to provide quiet, restful sleeping quarters separated from the living areas. The ground floor contains a kitchen and dining area with bespoke oak cabinetry and a notable three-meter green wall. The first floor includes a living room with double-aspect windows overlooking the park and a spa-inspired bathroom illuminated by a roof light.

Total costs for the project reached £550,000, approximately £650 per square foot, a figure Davies acknowledges as relatively high but reflective of the home’s environmentally conscious technologies. Greenview House includes triple-glazed windows, solar panels, and a mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) system, earning it a top-tier Energy Performance Certificate rating of A.

Despite the challenges and expense, the couple regard Greenview House as a significant achievement. However, with loans to repay and a desire to start a family, they plan to relocate to southwest England, where Ellis-Hayle has family ties. Although they intend to leave London, the couple’s enthusiasm for self-build projects remains strong, with plans already underway to seek out a new plot for future development.