Under the arches: spectacular boat-shaped 'Narnia' house built into working London railway arch is listed for sale

An award-winning archway home spectacularly built into one of London's historic 19th-century viaducts has been listed for sale for the first time.

The majestically quirky Archway Studios — built by architect Didier Ryan in 2013— is hidden away on a former brownfield site in Walworth.

The property is a masterclass in intelligent, innovative design, concealing a surprising 1,600sq ft of space within its unconventional shell.

Bursting with light and impressively soundproofed, the two-bedroom live-work property is clad in beautifully weathered steel to reflect its industrial setting.

The first problem to address was the noise from trains rattling over the tracks above. To solve it, Ryan gave the building a rubber foundation and sandwiched “acoustic blankets” and noise-dampening devices between the walls.

Next, he tackled the lack of natural light. The combination of a huge roof skylight and a concave outer wall was key — the former draws light in from above to bounce off the latter and reach the gloomiest corners of the house.

The open-plan living space is divided into different functional areas by furniture, not heavy walls, helping the design flow.

The lofty 16ft-high ceiling of the atrium billows up above the archway itself, opening up the space, and the folded steel and wood spiral staircase rising to three floors at the side makes another dramatic statement

Ryan paid close attention to the unsexy but ever-pressing issue of storage, too, building it into hidden space above the entrance and within the front hall.

“The biggest challenge was installing the huge, pre-fabricated boat-like building with its complex curves and highly sculptural form, so that it fitted perfectly together on site and performed as expected — scooping in daylight and views to surrounding trees while acting as an acoustic shield,” he says.

White, minimalist interiors create a fresh, modern feel and provide the perfect backdrop for Ryan and his photographer wife Candice Lake’s eclectic art and antiques collection.

Their kitchen benches are made from reclaimed school laboratory tables, complete with engravings from bored teenagers.

“This home has been a real gift to live in,” says Lake. “I love that it is hidden from the street so it feels like our little secret. I also love seeing people’s faces upon entering. It is like stepping into Narnia. It is big and white but still feels so intimate.”

Ryan and Lake have lived in Archway Studios since its creation in 2013, when it won House of the Year at the New London Architecture Awards.

Southwark council was quick to grant planning permission for the design as it is keen to encourage the redevelopment of unused railway arches.

Ryan’s practice Undercurrent Architects has recently had plans to convert two more railway arches in the borough into residential homes approved.

There are some 10,000 railway arches across London and Ryan hopes his model will also be replicated elsewhere.

“Railways often sliced through the centre of residential neighbourhoods and, in these cases, a return to residential use makes sense,” he says.

“Arches lend themselves to non-orthogonal spaces and can offer home owners something unique – softer shapes that accommodate sound and light in a different way to cubic spaces, changing the way you move and how the inside and outside relate.”

Design-led estate agents The Modern House, who are marketing Archway Studios, describe it as a “spatially clever, ingenious new paradigm for residential spaces in the city”.

They believe this unique property would appeal to “anyone looking for a house that celebrates the fundamental principles of good architecture: volume, light, functionality and beauty”.

Ryan thinks arty types, self-employed entrepreneurs and social people who enjoy entertaining will be particularly drawn to his home, which he and Lake are reluctant to give up and “never would”, were their family not outgrowing it.

“So much love has been poured into making this home and it was very hard to put it on the market,” says Lake.

“It is the most magical place to entertain, read a book, lay down and watch the clouds pass by. My only hope for this exceptional space is that the next owners love it as much as we have.”