Neglected London Car Park Transformed into Striking Family Home.

What happens when you take a neglected car park behind a convenience store and transform it into a three-bedroom family home? The answer is Lode, a striking new-build project in London’s Stoke Newington that proves small-scale development can deliver outsized results. Small-scale developer Flawk, founded by Bartlett graduate Ashley Law, has collaborated with NIKJOO architecture to breathe new life into and unlock the potential of a 116-square-metre infill site.

The brief was clear: create a spacious, light-filled family home on a constrained back-land site using sustainable building practices. NIKJOO’s architectural approach centres around visual connections to the outdoors, with two garden spaces enhancing the flow of natural light throughout the home.

The monolithic structure makes a distinctive addition to the diverse streetscape. Deep red brick references the area’s Victorian terraces, while pale pink mortar—mixed and tested on-site—echoes the hues of neighbouring post-war buildings. Douglas fir window reveals create warmth internally, contrasting beautifully with the steel roof detailing and exposed concrete that dialogue with the varied streetscape.

Daylight penetrates deep into the plan through unusually tall east-facing windows, generous skylights in bedrooms and circulation spaces, and playful portholes that pierce the building’s western mass. The design cleverly peels back segments of finishes to reveal underlying construction—exposed blockwork in living areas and bedrooms, timber floor joists at the entrance—adding visual interest while improving energy performance through thermal mass.

The ground floor features a generous open-plan kitchen, dining and living space flooded with natural light through floor-to-ceiling glazing. A straight modular kitchen sits against exposed concrete blockwork, where marble worktops meet disc-brushed stainless steel cabinetry with oak handles. An oversized bespoke pocket door separates the space from the entrance hall.

A custom staircase designed by Flawk and fabricated by Atelier WAMA transitions from concrete and stainless steel to oak as it ascends. Steel cable balustrades feature suspended beads reminiscent of childhood toys, adding playful sophistication that’s echoed in the bespoke bedroom shelving systems.

The first floor houses two double bedrooms with built-in storage and ensuite bathrooms, while the third-floor master bedroom crowns the home with a walk-in wardrobe, ensuite, and access to a secluded roof terrace.

Flawk’s mission to champion local and emerging design shines through carefully curated objects and fixtures. Hand-cast curtain rings by Jamps pair with locally sourced Hackney Draper fabric, while bespoke pieces include wall sconces by Josh Page and hand-carved mirrors by Lewis Kemmenoe.

“Flawk stands as a platform for independent design,” explains Ashley Law. “As well as a developer, I am an emerging designer; that’s my community, so it’s important to collaborate with my peers and champion our work collectively.”

Alex Nikjoo adds: “It has been an exciting journey to transform an unpromising, concrete car parking space into a vibrant family home, showing what can be done on a relatively small and overlooked site.”

Lode proves that resourceful, creative approaches to materials and space can revitalise forgotten urban plots into high-quality homes with ample light, space, and design integrity.

[Images courtesy of Flawk. Photography by Lorenzo Zandri.]