Perforated House sits within the Hollies Way Estate, an ex local authority housing complex built in the 1960s, located within the London Borough of Wandsworth, UK. The project has involved the full retrofit and careful refurbishment of this unloved ex-council dwelling, which had deteriorated to a poor condition. The existing property suffered badly from issues of damp and mould brought about by poor ventilation and these problems were exacerbated by a lack of insulation, ineffective services as well as minimal access to natural light. Addressing these issues was of fundamental importance, and the ambition of the project was to give new life to a decrepit, unkept structure and recognise its possibilities, rather than simply demolishing it and starting again. The need to improve airflow led to us developing the design for a celebratory new street-facing elevation where perforated brickwork is carefully composed and layered with glazing to provide screened openings and therefore opportunities for secure ventilation so that the building can always breathe. In doing so the composition of brickwork, with the perforated beds laid facing outwards, defines an architectural language that provides a renewed dignified face towards the street. It also provides a veiled threshold between the flexible layout of the interior and a newly created private outdoor courtyard with soft planting and seating areas. Through the unusual and innovative use of perforated brickwork, the refurbishment works will not only significantly improve the quality of life of the building’s occupants, they will also safeguard the existing structure so it may now provide a high quality living environment for decades to come. Awards Shortlisted / Surface Design Awards 2025 Shortlisted / AJ Retrofit and Reuse Awards 2024 Shortlisted / Don’t Move, Improve! Awards 2024 Shortlisted / Brick Awards 2023 / ‘Innovation’ category Shortlisted / Brick Awards 2023 / ‘Individual Housing Development’ category