Winner: House (urban) of the year 2023. Ao-ft has designed Spruce House and Studio in London, United Kingdom.

Spruce House and Studio is a newly built family home and self-contained design studio built using cross-laminated timber (CLT) on an infill site in Walthamstow, East London.

The project captures studio Ao-ft's commitment to sustainable construction, intending to create living environments that prioritise well-being through bio-based natural materials.

Envisioned as a mini masterplan, a series of garden spaces connect interiors with strategically positioned glazing and floor levels to allow inhabitants to feel at one within their surroundings.

Judges comments: "Presenting a distinctive yet coherent facade to the street, and an expressive volumetric cascading composition to the rear, this new house is an example of building sustainably with timber. Thoughtfully designed and beautifully detailed, the building is in continuity with its context. A self-build project that exemplifies where design makes a difference to the quality of architecture."

Studio: Ao-ft
Project: Spruce House and Studio