Connected House

: London

Connected House is a sensitive and ambitious retrofit of a 1960s Wates home on Dulwich’s celebrated Woodhall Drive Estate—an award-winning example of mid-century suburban planning. Conceived in 1963 by Austin Vernon & Partners and designed by Victor Knight and Manfred Bresgen, the estate fused American domestic ideals with British architectural rigour: low-slung roofs, open gardens, and a layout that prioritised privacy, light, and greenery. It remains one of London’s most intact modernist housing enclaves.

The clients, Michael and Talia, purchased the three-bedroom detached home with a long-term vision for their young family. Their brief was both personal and forward-looking: to create a calm, light-filled sanctuary with exceptional air quality, energy efficiency, and a strong connection to the garden. The result is a Passivhaus Low Energy retrofit (certification pending) that retains the original form while radically improving performance. RDA Architects took a fabric-first approach—preserving the existing structure while upgrading thermal performance through blown wood-fibre insulation, Accoya timber cladding, and discreet solar tiles embedded in a new roof. Cortizo triple-glazed windows, MVHR, and an air-source heat pump deliver outstanding thermal comfort. Interiors use low-VOC materials and bespoke joinery to create a healthy, harmonious space. Uniquely, the project incorporates open-source software—developed by the client—to optimise whole-house energy use, resulting in near-zero energy bills and periods of energy surplus. A collaboration between RDA Architects, Construction for Living Ltd., James Aldridge Design, and Akarui lighting, Connected House sets a benchmark for retrofitting mid-century homes with empathy, technical rigour, and environmental care.