Tollgate Drive, London SE21

Considered by many to be the finest of the Dulwich Estate’s modernist schemes, Tollgate Drive was built to a design in the 1960s by renowned architects Victor Knight and Manfred Bresgen of Austin Vernon & Partners. This remarkable ranch-style house has since been meticulously extended and restored by the current owners, Angus and Sarah Shepherd, a director of Powell Tuck Associates and an interiors consultant, respectively. Unfolding over almost 3,000 sq ft, the four-bedroom house is surrounded by beautifully planted gardens and has a double garage and various flexible studio and office spaces.



We've written about life on Tollgate Drive in greater depth.



The Estate



In 1954, Austin Vernon & Partners were called on to design a scheme that would rejuvenate the Dulwich Estate. Vernon himself had formerly been a pupil at Dulwich College from 1898 -1901 and so knew this area well, whilst his uncle Frederick Austin Vernon (1882-1972) had already been the surveyor and architect to the Dulwich Estate.



By 1957, Vernon’s first scheme was complete. Over the next 20 years, more than 2,000 new homes were designed by Austin Vernon & Partners, including Tollgate Drive, which was completed in the mid-to-late 1960s and is regarded as some of the estate’s most impressive architecture.



Reworked by its current architect owner in 2014, the house has been rationalised and reimagined in a way that respects the clarity and spirit of its original 1966 design. It had been previously extended, which the current owners added to, and carefully chosen materials were added throughout.



The Tour



Lying low in its site, the house’s angled profile emerges out of greenery. An abundance of grey-framed VELFAC glazing wraps its exterior, bathing the house with light throughout the day.



The path to the front of the building is lined with a planted border, planted with a variety of colourful perennials. From here, the home’s primary entrance - a tomato-red front door that contrasts with the original brick - opens to a hallway, which acts as the central node of the lateral plan.



Directly ahead of the hallway, behind sliding doors that open up between the living room and the entrance hall and staircase, is the generous living room; an encapsulation of the architects’ calming mid-century design ethos. Floor-to-ceiling glazing faces out to the beautifully planted garden at the rear, simultaneously drawing in plenty of light. Wide oak floors spread underfoot, while a wood-panelled ceiling spans overhead. At one end of the room, a raised concrete hearth and wood-burning stove delineate the living area, while at the other end, a bank of shelves provides space for books and favourite objects; two sections open or slide shut to divide the dining room and kitchen beyond. There is a door here which opens onto the garden.



The kitchen comprises walnut veneer full-height cupboards, which run opposite a generous concrete workbench. Ochre-coloured zellige tiles form a bold splashback. A dining area lies at the far end, bounded by a green-backed bookcase with more open display space.



A second hallway lies beyond the dining room, leading to a guest WC, a generous coat cupboard and the garage, which is still fitted with original bifolding doors.



From the primary entrance hall is a second circulation space from which the home’s four peaceful bedrooms emanate. The remarkable principal suite is at the rear, with double-aspect glazing that captures views of, and permits access to, the rear garden. An internal corridor hidden by a sliding 'wall' forms a walk-in wardrobe and connects to a bright en suite bathroom with large-format ceramic tiles. From here, the same sliding door connects back to the sleeping quarters.



The remaining three rooms are appointed in a similarly pristine way; all have views across the resplendent gardens, while one adjoins a spacious office, with its own door to the outside, providing a tranquil space to work or create from home. A separate bathroom serves these rooms.



Stairs from the primary hallway - crowned by a light by PSLab - descend to a basement level, where the largest space is currently used as an atmospheric cinema room. There is also a large and useful store room here, along with a wet room and a lightwell.



Under current ownership, special consideration has been given to eco-efficiency, including the installation of an air source heat pump, underfloor heating, solar panels and MVHR (mechanical ventilation with heat recovery).



Outdoor Space



Visible from glazing in almost every room, the gardens that surround the house are an integral part of its design. Colourful and textured trees, shrubs and flowers have been added to provide year-round visual interest, including acers, olive trees and even grape vines which wind up a trellis. The scheme balances a naturalistic approach with carefully carved out pockets of landscaping. Train sleepers have been laid throughout the garden, and decking that borders the bedrooms also provides more space for deckchairs and dining set-ups.



The Area



Tollgate Drive is well-positioned on the verdant and abundant Dulwich Estate. It is a short walk from the restaurants and cafés of Dulwich village, which includes Gail’s, The Proud Sow butchers, and Redemption Roasters.



The open spaces of Dulwich Park, Belair Park and Sydenham Woods are on the doorstep, while Crystal Palace Park is just a little further to the south. Dulwich Picture Gallery, England’s first purpose-built art gallery designed by the Regency architect Sir John Soane, is close by; it runs a brilliant programme of exhibitions and events and has a delightful café. The Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill are also easily reached.



Lordship Lane is a walk away and has some wonderful independents, including Mons cheesemongers and Franklins pub and restaurant, along with a Picturehouse cinema.



There are well-renowned schools locally, in both the state and private sectors. Dulwich College is within five minutes’ walk of the house, while Alleyn’s and James Allen’s Girls’ School are both easily reached.



Sydenham Hill station is under a 10-minute walk from the house and runs services to Victoria in 13 minutes, Blackfriars in 20, and City Thameslink/Farringdon in 22.



Council Tax Band: G