CASE STUDY
SCENARIO: WHEN THE ARCHITECT BECOMES THE CLIENT
A contemporary Dulwich home shaped by daily life.
When Scenario Architecture founder and director Ran Ankory set out to design his own family home in Dulwich, he found himself facing a rare challenge: being both the architect and the client. The result is a striking, contemporary residence that not only respects its traditional surroundings but also puts Scenario ' s core philosophy to the ultimate test.
" Being both architect and client is an inherent contradiction, and there is tension there. But good design comes from tension— it forces you to challenge your own methods, beliefs, and instincts."— Ran Ankory, Founder & Director, Scenario Architecture.
THE BRIEF & PLANNING CHALLENGES
Ran and his wife Maya purchased a crumbling detached house bordering a conservation area with the intention of demolishing and starting again. The challenge: how to create a home that was unapologetically contemporary while still respecting its traditional setting.
Instead of following the usual binary approach— contemporary form with traditional materials, or vice versa— Scenario pushed the conversation further. They identified three traditional local elements and amplified them:
• The gable ends, scaled up to shape the entire form of the house around three large gables.
• The pitched roof, aligned with the ideal angle for solar panels, transforming the roof itself into a sustainable energy source.
• Vertical clay tiles, wrapped continuously around the façade to give a modern twist on a familiar material.
This approach created a bold yet sympathetic design that eventually won over planners after a rigorous process, including community engagement and a successful planning appeal.
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