Spruce House & Studio is a new-build home and self-contained garden studio constructed from CLT on a narrow infill site in Walthamstow Village. It is the first built project by London-based design practice ao-ft, and exemplifies the studio’s guiding interest in natural, renewable materials and sustainable fabrication techniques.

Located in a conservation area on what used to be the village high street, the design references the historic origins of the location and its transition over the past century from retail to housing.

Described by the judges of the Wood Awards as ‘contemporary, calm and monastic’, the scheme has cleverly enabled generous, open spaces to emerge within a traditional Victorian footprint.

Replacing an existing 1960s infill that was in poor condition, with no salvageable elements, practice partners Zach Fluker and Liz Tatarintseva – acting as both client and designer – sought to minimise carbon emissions at every stage of construction, from fabrication through to finishing.

The primary structure is formed of custom-milled prefabricated CLT panels, chosen for their environmental performance credentials and aesthetics as an exposed internal finish. The structure is optimised to minimise use of steel, while off-site manufacturing was utilised to reduce waste. Both the shell of the house and the kit of parts staircase were designed for ease of disassembly.