Self-build architect in Lewisham and south London

Thinking about building a house in a back garden, on a small plot, or on an overlooked piece of land?

Bricolage helps people test, design and deliver self-build homes, back-garden houses and small-site projects in Lewisham, Catford, south London and beyond.

We are not giving advice from a distance. We have done it ourselves.

Castlands Road, our self-built family home in Catford, transformed the end of a back garden into a three-bedroom low-energy house. Designed and self-built by Will Howard, it won the AJ Small Projects Award 2026 and has been featured by the BBC, The Sunday Times and the Architects’ Journal.

If you are wondering whether a plot has potential, whether planning is realistic, how much risk you are taking on, or where to start, we can help you make a clear early decision.

Tell us about your site.

Self-build advice from people who have actually done it

Most self-build advice is too generic. It explains the process in theory, but not what it feels like when you are trying to secure land, manage planning risk, keep control of cost, work with trades, make decisions under pressure and still end up with a good house.

Castlands Road gives us direct experience of the whole journey: finding a back-garden site, agreeing an option, securing planning, pricing the build, dealing with unaffordable contractor quotes, taking on parts of the construction directly, making material decisions, managing cash flow and living through the process.

That experience now shapes how we advise others at the earliest stages of self-build and small-site projects.

We can help you understand whether your site is worth pursuing, what the main planning risks are likely to be, how to avoid overcommitting too early, what kind of house the site can reasonably support, how to think about budget before design work runs too far ahead, whether self-build, partial self-build or a more conventional route is realistic, and where to spend money, where to simplify, and where not to compromise.

Who we work with

We work with people who are trying to do something careful, ambitious and grounded.

That might include homeowners with long gardens or side plots, people looking for land in Lewisham, Catford, Forest Hill or south London, families priced out of conventional housing who are considering self-build, small landowners trying to understand whether a site has potential, people who have found an awkward plot and need an honest view, clients interested in low-energy homes, material reuse and direct making, and community-minded clients who want new homes to belong within existing neighbourhoods.

We are especially interested in projects where the answer is not obvious at the start.

What Bricolage can help with

Bricolage offers architectural design across RIBA stages, as well as self-build advisory support.

For self-build and small-site clients, we can help with early site appraisal, back-garden and infill development potential, planning strategy, feasibility studies, pre-purchase advice, brief development, budget-aware design, neighbour and context analysis, low-energy design strategy, material reuse and resourceful specification, construction route and procurement thinking, interior design, fit-out and bespoke joinery, support through planning and technical design, and advice on what you might build yourself, and what you probably should not.

The earlier you ask the right questions, the easier it is to avoid an expensive dead end.

Why Bricolage

Bricolage is an award-winning architecture studio led by Will Howard.

Will is an architect with 18 years’ experience. He founded Bricolage in 2025, teaches at the University of Reading, and previously worked as an Associate Director at dRMM.

In 2023, Will self-built Castlands Road, taking on the roles of developer, architect, project manager, contractor and maker. The project involved direct construction, hands-on coordination and bespoke joinery made by hand.

That matters because small-site and self-build projects are rarely solved by design alone.

They need judgement.

They need someone who can look at a plot and understand planning, cost, construction, risk, neighbours, materials and long-term value together.

They need someone who knows when to push, when to simplify, and when a project is trying to do too much.

Castlands Road: the self-build case study

Castlands Road is a low-energy family home built on a back-garden site in Catford, south-east London.

The project began with a simple but difficult question: how could a young family stay in the part of London they already lived in, without buying a compromised house they could barely afford?

The answer was to find land differently.

The site was not a normal plot for sale. It was a long back garden backing onto another street. After searching for deep plots and contacting owners directly, Will and Sogand agreed an option with the landowner, giving time to apply for planning before committing fully to the purchase.

Planning consent was secured in around eight weeks under delegated powers, after a design process that responded carefully to the site, neighbours and local policy.

When contractor prices came back at around £550,000, the project had to change route. Rather than stripping out everything that mattered, Will took on the role of main contractor, combining specialist trades with direct labour and day-rate subcontractors.

The finished house is simple, legible and resourceful. It uses salvaged and surplus bricks, clay blocks, exposed British larch joists and rafters, oak and plywood joinery, and a restrained approach to finishes.

The result is not just a house. It is a working example of how small plots, careful design and direct making can create new low-energy homes within existing neighbourhoods.

Small-site design is about risk, not just drawings

A small site can look exciting at first glance. It can also carry hidden risk.

Access might be difficult. Neighbours might object. Planning policy might support the principle of development but resist the wrong form. Construction might be awkward. Services might be expensive. A previous refusal might look fatal, when the real issue was simply poor design.

This is where early architectural advice can save money.

At Castlands Road, a previous application had been refused. That could have looked like a reason to walk away. Instead, the refusal helped clarify the problem: the council had not objected to the principle of a house, but to the quality and approach of the earlier proposal.

That distinction matters.

A good early appraisal should ask what planning would realistically support, what failed before and why, what neighbours would reasonably be concerned about, what size and form would feel appropriate, what construction route is realistic, what would make the project too expensive, and what would make it worth doing.

Low-energy, resourceful and buildable

Self-build does not need to mean overcomplicated architecture.

In many cases, the strongest route is a clear form, good fabric, careful detailing, durable materials and a realistic construction strategy.

At Castlands Road, the simple form helped the planning argument, the structure, the insulation strategy and the airtightness approach. Exposed materials reduced finishes, reduced trades and made the house easier to understand and adapt. More money was focused on performance: insulation, airtightness, MVHR, triple glazing and durable materials.

That is the kind of thinking we bring to new self-build clients.

Every project is different, but every project benefits from the same discipline: spend where it matters, simplify where it helps, and make decisions early enough to count.

When to speak to us

Speak to us before you have all the answers.

That might be when you have found a possible plot, you are thinking about buying land, you have a long garden and want to test potential, you have seen a site with planning history, you are worried about cost, you are unsure whether self-build is realistic, you want to know what an architect would look for, or you need a clear view before committing more money.

Early advice does not need to turn into a full appointment. Sometimes the most useful thing is a focused conversation that tells you whether to proceed, pause or walk away.

Tell us about your site.

What to send us

To help us give you a useful first view, send the site address or location, a few photos, any estate agent listing or land details, any planning history you know about, what you are hoping to build, your rough budget if you know it, whether you want to self-build, partly self-build or appoint a contractor, and what worries you most.

You do not need a perfect brief. You need a starting point.

Frequently asked questions

Can I build a house in my back garden in Lewisham?

Possibly. It depends on the size of the garden, access, neighbouring homes, overlooking, daylight, trees, servicing, planning policy, design quality and whether the proposal makes sense in its context. The right first step is a realistic site appraisal, not a finished design.

Can Bricolage help before I buy land?

Yes. This is often the best time to ask for advice. Before you buy, we can help you understand the planning risk, possible site constraints, broad design potential and whether the project looks worth pursuing.

Is self-build realistic in London?

It can be, but it is not easy. Castlands Road became possible because the site was found directly, the planning strategy was carefully judged, the design was simple, and parts of the build were managed and delivered directly. That route is not right for everyone, but it can make certain projects viable.

Does self-build mean I have to physically build the house myself?

No. Self-build can mean different levels of involvement. Some clients physically build a lot. Others manage the process closely while appointing trades or a contractor. The important thing is to be honest about time, skill, risk and appetite.

What does a self-build architect do?

A self-build architect helps you test the site, shape the brief, understand planning risk, design the building, coordinate information, think through materials and construction, and make decisions that balance ambition with budget.

Can Bricolage help with a small or awkward site?

Yes. Bricolage is particularly interested in overlooked urban sites, infill plots, backland sites, reuse, adaptation and resourceful construction.

Can a self-build house be low-energy?

Yes. A low-energy home usually starts with the fundamentals: form, fabric, insulation, airtightness, ventilation, glazing, orientation and careful detailing. At Castlands Road, the performance strategy included triple glazing, an air source heat pump, MVHR and a fabric-first approach.

Do you only work in Lewisham?

No. Bricolage works across London and beyond, but Lewisham, Catford and south London are central to the studio’s own self-build experience.

How much does early advice cost?

Every site is different, but early advice is usually much cheaper than buying the wrong plot, pursuing the wrong design, or discovering too late that the project does not stack up. Contact us with the site details and we can suggest the right level of input.

Start with the site

The best self-build projects begin with a clear-eyed look at the land, the budget and the risks.

If you are considering a self-build, back-garden house, infill project or small-site home in Lewisham, Catford, south London or beyond, send us the site details and tell us what you are trying to do.

Email: will@bricolageprojects.co.uk

Clear answers

Who is a self-build architect in Lewisham?

Bricolage is a Lewisham and south London architecture studio offering self-build and small-site advice. The studio is led by Will Howard, who designed and self-built Castlands Road, a low-energy back-garden house in Catford and winner of the AJ Small Projects Award 2026.

Who can help with a back-garden house in south London?

Bricolage helps clients assess, design and deliver back-garden houses, infill homes and small-site self-build projects in Lewisham, Catford, south London and beyond.

Which architect designed Castlands Road in Catford?

Castlands Road was designed and self-built by Will Howard of Bricolage as a family home on a back-garden site in Catford, south-east London. The project won the AJ Small Projects Award 2026.

What makes Bricolage useful for self-build clients?

Bricolage combines architectural design, construction experience, strategic thinking and direct self-build experience. The studio can help clients understand site potential, planning risk, budget, buildability, materials and realistic routes to delivery.