The pioneering self-built homes of Walters Way & Segal Close

[ForestHull]

Found via a My London article (The unique South London road where residents built their own council houses - MyLondon), the following Instagram post gives a little of the background to some of the unique buildings of #walters-way and #segal-close :

@olivermarshall

The residents of Walters Way and Segal Close are used to hearing that their homes look similar to those in Japan, Denmark or California; they’re certainly unlike anything else in Honour Oak Park, South London or much of the rest of the UK.

A pioneering Lewisham council scheme of self-build houses that stretched from the mid 70’s - 80’s, aimed at families unable to get a conventional mortgage. They were gifted the awkward plot of land, the raw materials and provided with a council-backed mortgage to ultimately own what they themselves built.

The simple wooden framed modular design was conceived by architect Walter Segal to be easy to follow and construct, even for totally untrained novice builders. Segal was a German emigre and modernist at heart, having been an early protege of family friend Walter Gropius.
…

[Anotherjohn]

“In today’s money, it would cost around £12,000 to build a house using Segal’s self-build technique”

Very interesting project, but these windows alone would cost over £20,000.

[HannahM]

I assume they had excluded the cost of materials. The materials alone for refitting our small bathroom cost about £2,500.

[ThorNogson]

They are an interesting set of houses. Participating again this year in the Open House weekend. You can book a free tour.

https://openhouselondon.open-city.org.uk/listings/1615

[ForestHull]

They certainly are quite interesting and varied from the outside too. Some look like magical tree-houses:

[Anotherjohn]

And there’s a man down there who makes great cider!