When, about a year ago, my neighbour said something about seeing a planning application to convert the disused public loos on the parade into an apartment, I thought he'd been drinking. But then, some months later, Laura Clark posted a link to her blog on Virtual Norwood, and I realised my neighbour had been right all along. Laura is a young architect, and an extremely tenacious one. She first spotted the disused loos when she moved into the area 6 years ago, and it took all the intervening years to persuade the council to let her acquire the property, and get the relevant permissions, to allow work to begin. What she has achieved is an extraordinary, if somewhat eccentric home, right here on the Triangle.
Laura Clark
The moment I first saw the project, I knew there would be a story worth telling, and sure enough, the style editor at the Saturday Telegraph magazine, David Nicholls, agreed with me. Living in Southeast London himself, he snapped up the story, and I was delighted when he commissioned me to shoot it for the magazine. Also enlisted, to conduct the interview with Laura, and write the copy, was my old friend, and fellow blogger, Charlotte Packer.
To see the article as it appeared in the Telegraph, click here
Just left a comment saying how fab this is but its disappeared...anyway...great you had the imagination and commitment to take this on! Where are your site boots kept??
The Triangle is a photo journal about a little corner of South London. I am a Photographer specialising in Interiors and Architecture, & I moved to Upper Norwood/Crystal Palace/Gipsy Hill/SE19 (you choose) back in 2006, and saw immediately what a strong community exists here. One of the things that makes the area different, is that unlike most of the towns and villages that make up London, it is not arranged along an endless high street on the way to somewhere else, but instead is centred on the 3 streets which gives the area its "Triangle" soubriquet. As well as its community spirit, the area also possesses a strongly independent streak, which is reflected in its diverse local shops and restaurants, many of which are locally owned and run businesses. Unusually for London, apart from the usual banks and estate agents, you don't find many national chains here. So the aim of this blog is to photograph as many of these businesses on the Triangle, both the premises and the owners or those who run them, to celebrate this rich community.
wow! really amazing!
ReplyDeleteI love tenacious people like Laura. Bright, intelligent and a go-getter!
ReplyDeleteThe results are truly magnificent. That's what I call a 'home'!!!
Brilliant James.
Wow, looks amazing. Beautifully done.
ReplyDeleteI want her shoe collection!
ReplyDeleteJust left a comment saying how fab this is but its disappeared...anyway...great you had the imagination and commitment to take this on! Where are your site boots kept??
ReplyDeleteThank you for your great comments - and indeed fantastic photographs and article in the Telegraph
ReplyDeleteHahaha...I wore my site boots out completely and I happily chucked them in the last skip!
Belvedere road loos next?
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely, quirky house. The interiors are stunning.
ReplyDeleteTruely amazing, I pass this spot most days and had no notion that all this was under my feet. You've done a fantastic job
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