Dogtooth Brickwork Makes a Narrow London Terrace House Stand Out While Blending In
Architect Giles Bruce’s residence takes its name from the jagged pattern of bricks that covers most of its park-facing side.
Architect Giles Bruce’s residence takes its name from the jagged pattern of bricks that covers most of its park-facing side.
Architect Giles Bruce’s south London house, built in 2019, sits at the end of a Victorian terrace that was partially destroyed during World War II. A pocket park now occupies the spot where the bombs fell, with Giles’s home filling the gap between the last house standing and the urban greenery.
Named for the jagged pattern of bricks that covers most of its park-facing side, Dogtooth House, which Giles shares with his wife, Ingrid Hu, and their three-year-old son, has a single main room on each of its four stories. This makes the 13-foot-wide house feel more spacious than it appears from the outside, but the plan does have its drawbacks.
Drawing from a detail on neighboring homes, Giles Bruce’s London row house features dogtooth brickwork, in which rows of bricks are laid at an angle to create a jagged pattern.
Photo: Adam Scott
The house’s east side faces a small park, increasing the amount of natural light that enters the slender building.
Photo: John MacLean
"Living in a tall house with one room per floor means that you need a very good memory," says Giles. "You don’t want to leave something on one floor and have to run and get it at two in the morning."
The basement family room opens to a below-grade walled garden.
Photo: John MacLean
See the full story on Dwell.com: Dogtooth Brickwork Makes a Narrow London Terrace House Stand Out While Blending In
