EVERYONE deserves the choice of a house and garden. So says SLAM, a group of architects who have devised a home design that costs only £53,000 to build yet includes outdoor space and can be adapted to include up to two bedrooms. Amy Lam and Yasser al-Saheal’s design also meets government environmental targets, such as the inclusion of biomass boilers, and affordability requirements.

“We were fed up with all these shoebox-size one-bed flats built by the larger developers to combat the housing crisis,” says Lam. “It’s all very well buying these to get your foot on the property ladder, but what happens when you need more room?” al-Saheal adds.

The stylish one-bedroom house module, pictured right, requires little land – only 28 sq m – and is 90 per cent built off-site, which reduces waste and controls quality and building costs. The two-up, two-down terrace façade allows it to blend into a typical street. With little fuss, the one-bedroom can be transformed into a two-bedroom by building into the roof space. Al-Saheal says: “There are so many small pieces of land scattered around cities, which could be used to build these flexible properties.”

Now all that is required is for someone to build one. Al-Saheal says: “Of course, we would be delighted for a big developer to build them on a grander scale. People should have the choice of where they live and in what type of property. With a little lateral thinking, this can be achieved.” www.slarchitecturemobile.co.uk

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