Explore resident-built council houses in South London. A unique 1970s housing program changed lives with timber frame homes.
A Swiss architect worked with Lewisham to create a unique housing program. Locals built their own council houses using the ‘Segal self-build method,’ invented by legendary architect Walter Segal. The houses used timber frame techniques, replacing bricklaying and plastering, making it easy for residents to construct their own homes.
Segal houses have a treehouse-like design, with each house varying in size and color. A Segal house costs around £12,000 to build today.
The Segal method saves time and money, allowing anyone to build a house without prior experience. This approach was extraordinary and very successful in Lewisham.
Lewisham Council bought land in the 1970s, sometimes unsuitable, either small, steep, or overly wooded. But Segal and the council saw potential in this land, giving people a chance to build homes while addressing housing shortages.
Phase One started in 1979 and was a huge success. Phase Two started in 1984, resulting in twenty-seven detached houses with spacious gardens. The homes are similar to treehouses.
Walter Segal died in 1985, and Walters Way and Segal Close were named in his honor. Dave Dayes, a resident who built his own home on Walters Way, praised Segal’s technique in a recent film.
Dayes stated that big companies build for profit, not communities. Architects can design houses for real people, as locals have proven, and hopefully, the next model will further demonstrate this point.
While building a Segal house costs £12,000 now, people have added extensions, modern features, and eco-friendly elements. Solar electricity powers water and the houses themselves.
Walters Way and Segal Close are architectural examples, but access is restricted due to their private nature. Open House tours sometimes visit them during London’s festival in September.