Map House

SAM Architects chose century-old brickwork and charred larch for the exterior of this mews house in southeast London, which features a brightly coloured kitchen and a folding facade.

Paolo Vimercati and Melanie Schubert of SAM Architects bought a double garage hidden away behind a row of heritage-listed houses in Camberwell in late 2011 with the intention of building their own home. The small seven-metre-by-seven-metre site is situated in a conservation area. But despite this, the pair was able to win planning permission for the compact three-storey brick mews known as MAP House in just one year. They were even able to baby-proof some elements of the design in preparation for a new family member.