The Glass House, Bellevue Road, London, SW17

This rare expanse of largely lateral living offers a refreshing alternative to the Victorian fare that dominates this sought-after part of Wandsworth Common. The design, by the architect Matthew Ratsma, combines masses of high-reaching glazing with playful, versatile spatial design spanning almost 3,000 sq ft and a series of interacting levels that look onto one another and across internal courtyards and terraces. It has an integral garage and off-street parking and represents a wonderful opportunity for cosmetic reimagining.

The Tour

The primary entrance of the house is on Wiseton Road, just off a bustling section of the boutique-lined Bellevue Road. A secondary entrance is available from Bellevue Road itself.

The façade on Wiseton Road is set back from the quiet residential street behind a courtyard garden and a large magnolia tree. An integral garage, with an extra off-street space, is located on the left and provides access to the utility room.

The formal front door is to the right of the courtyard and opens to a wide corridor flanked by bedrooms with moveable walls, allowing the spaces, and level as a whole, to be used in a variety of ways. One of the bedrooms has an en suite shower room and access to the front garden. The other is served by a family bathroom and looks out onto the courtyard garden and across to a living room and its mezzanine in the northern section of the plan. This space, with access to Bellevue Road, also has its own kitchenette and has been used as a separate studio in the past and as a fourth bedroom.

A spiral staircase ascends to the enormous first floor, arranged in a sweeping open plan with zones of varying intimacy. Light pours in from several aspects and through the dramatic aluminium-framed glazing that defines the front façade. The dining room looks across the courtyard garden to the mezzanine of the studio living space. In the southern corner, there are two points of access onto a substantial terrace, serving as an overspill for the breakfast area and living room.

The upper level contains a study area, occupying a gallery section above the living space, and the principal suite, which enjoys far-reaching views across Wandsworth Forest. It has an en suite bathroom and access to its own roof terrace.

The Area

Bellevue Road is arguably the gem in Wandsworth’s crown. The bustling and colourful strip, which faces the green open spaces of Wandsworth Common, is replete with independent shops, cafés and restaurants, including Bonsai Espresso Room, Brinkley’s, Bellas’s Fruit and Veg and The Althorp pub. A short walk across the common is the excellent KIBOU restaurant and sushi bar, as well as the multitude of offerings along Northcote Road.

The green expanses of Wandsworth Common are opposite the house and the Sir Walter Saint John’s Sports Ground is a short way away for cricket. Tooting Commons is also close by, with its recently renovated freshwater lido.

There are multiple school options available with “Good” ratings from Ofsted as well as a host of independent schools nearby.

Wandsworth Common Station is a seven-minute walk away and provides services directly to London Victoria in 12 minutes. There is also Tooting Bec Underground (Northern Line) around a 15-minute walk and several bus routes running into central London.

Council Tax Band: H