Paradise Gardens housing development creates adjustable family homes


In the heart of Hammersmith, there is a new residential housing development that has got the architectural world talking.


Since its completion in 2016, Paradise Gardens has been given a Housing Design Award and recently won the RIBA London Award 2017 and RIBA National Award 2017, but what is it?

Built on a formerly derelict yard in the Ravenscourt and Starch Green conservation area next to Ravenscourt Park, the development consists of six built to rent homes. Five three storey houses make up a terrace, accompanied by a sixth two storey apartment that has been built into the existing walls of Latymer House, a building that once stood on the boundary of the site.

The practice behind the project is Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands.  Alex Lifschutz and Paul Sandilands are the practice directors and together they have worked on many long standing projects such as regenerating London’s South Bank and  landmarks such as Hungerford  Footbridge  and the award-winning Oxo Tower Wharf.

Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands were given a tough brief. They had to transform a tight site that was overlooked by neighbouring properties and next to a locally listed terrace. On top of all this, the scheme was to be designed for the private rental sector.  That meant that their target market was for families renting on medium to long term leases. The houses needed to attract families looking to move to the area, so they had to look good.

 However, never ones to shy away from a challenge, the practice came back with not only a contemporary design which could accommodate six families, but also a space in which to build a community.

Alex Lifschutz said: We always have in mind somebody you can imagine living there. We thought about people with kids. I have lived for the last 25 years with my two, now grown up kids, with a communal garden, that was the most important ingredient where kids could grow and play and parents didn’t have to worry. I also thought about the idea that kids of a certain age could take public transport themselves. So I wanted the whole idea of living there would be liberating.”

The six houses can be accessed through a cobbled courtyard which has the space for six cars. This then opens up to beautiful communal garden that is inspired by the larger garden communities dotted around west London.

The interior of the houses have a Scandinavian feel. Large windows create an airy space with simple and functional décor.

Lifschutz describes the buildings as modern Victorian housing. Floor to ceiling there is a height of three metres, whereas wall to wall each room follows the ‘six metre formula’ as Alex describes it. He believes that this is the optimum width of a residence to allow for different configurations, whatever your family unit. For example the room can accommodate two double bedrooms and any other living space.

The houses were designed with ‘flexible living’ in mind. The architects wanted to create a space that could facilitate change and accommodate the different needs of multiple residents over time.

“We built them so they can be rearranged over time. So you could have a granny flat on the ground floor and a flat above over time.” Said Lifschutz.

The outside of the property echoes conventional London housing with neat brick detail, a zinc roof and aluminium windows. The designers wanted something robust that would stand the test of time.

Lifschutz explained the biggest challenged they faced was building a property to rent that wasn’t a flat.

“What is the difference between a house for rent and a house for sale? There are differences, you can change the materials. So the roofs are made of zinc so they don’t have to be repaired the floors are nice Danish wood so carpets don’t need to be changed. The hardest part was thinking what makes it different and appealing as a rental proposition?” Said Lifschutz.

He said that he hopes that Paradise Gardens will fit in with the modern person’s lifestyle and budget.

“You can move into it [the houses]and think this is mine. It doesn’t feel like you have descended in my lifestyle to a standard that somebody else has set. I wanted to create somewhere where people could say ‘I aspire to live here.’” Lifschutz said.

We certainly think he has achieved his goal.

Watch the architects talk about the project here.








Progressive Media International Limited. Registered Office: 40-42 Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 8EB, UK.Copyright 2024, All rights reserved.