Nine Timber Housing Units – London-Harlesden, UK

In one of Europe’s densest cities, SUSD Architects transformed a former industrial brownfield lot in London-Harlesden into a courtyard of nine new timber homes. The project, called Highwood Court, showed how prefabrication and innovative connectors can unlock tight urban infill sites.

Key highlights:

Smart urban infill: The site was accessible only through a 2.59 m-wide passage, leaving just 45 mm clearance on each side for delivery trucks. Prefabricated timber panels were manufactured in Germany with insulation, windows, and cladding pre-installed, then carefully delivered and assembled onsite.
Rapid construction: Using WALCO V and WALCO Z connectors, the prefabricated elements were quickly and precisely joined. The entire structural shell was completed in only two weeks, with the full project timeline running from December 2008 to December 2010.
Efficient housing design: Each unit has its own entrance, roof, and direct courtyard access. Vertical cuts in the upper floors created terraces that bring daylight into the narrow courtyard while meeting fire safety access standards.
Sustainability: Prefabricated timber minimized disturbance to neighbors, reduced CO₂ emissions, and delivered high-quality living space in a compact urban footprint.

This project demonstrates how KNAPP’s WALCO connectors provide precision and efficiency for modern housing solutions, even in space-constrained city environments like London.