Cartwright
Pickard

Olive Morris House is a highly sustainable and design-led residential development that forms a key part of the wider transformation of Lambeth’s Civic Quarter masterplan (Somerset Place, Ivor House, Lambeth Civic Centre and Lambeth Town Hall). Designed for longevity and community benefit, the project replaces a disused council building with 74 thoughtfully planned new homes, flexible commercial space, and a new home for Lambeth Archives.

Set within a complex and heritage-rich urban site, the integrated design approach balanced competing demands: commercial viability, environmental performance, local character and social value. The result is a robust and contextually sensitive building that contributes positively to the Brixton streetscape, offering a diverse mix of homes, 40% of which are affordable and tailored to local needs.

We led a collaborative design process that placed local voices and specialist expertise at its core. Working with heritage consultants, planning specialists and the local authority, and supported by extensive community consultation, we ensured the design responded meaningfully to its context and gained the trust of local residents.

All market-sale homes were sold within 12 months of launch, demonstrating both the development’s design appeal and commercial strength.

At the ground and basement level, the building accommodates the new Lambeth Archives, a major cultural asset that celebrates the borough’s diverse social, political and creative history. Its return to the heart of Brixton reflects the inclusive and civic-minded ethos of the wider development.

Recent exhibitions, including the return of original Shakespeare folios and stories of landmark performances by Paul Robeson, Peggy Ashcroft and John Gielgud, bring cultural memory back to life for the community.