Citizens House lies nestled within the sleepy residential neighbourhood of Sydenham, south London, its light-coloured brick marking a departure from the area's red-brick counterparts. All clean lines, with nods to, and touches that appear more raw and almost industrial, it feels elegant and contemporary, created to a design by architecture studio Archio. Citizens House’s success, however, goes far beyond its apparent aesthetic qualities.
The Citizens House residents directly selected their architects too – east London-based Archio. The latter conducted extensive workshops with them to determine the needs their design should cover in an extensive co-design process. A strong connection with the outdoors – through large openings, balconies for every unit and a multifunctional outdoor space – forms an important element.