A black-led self-build co-operative who built 13 sustainable timber frame homes in the mid 1990s.
| Number of homes | 13 social rented homes |
| Location | Downham, Lewisham |
| Completed on site | 1997 |
Fusions Jameen was set up as a black-led self-build co-operative, inspired by projects like Greenstreet Hill. The prospective residents organised the construction work and physically built their own homes, acting as contractors for CHISEL Housing Association, who took ownership of completed homes, and offered discounted social rents in return for self-builder residents’ labour.
Construction was based on the timber frame method pioneered by architect Walter Segal, although it had to be updated to meet more recent construction standards. The houses incorporate energy saving features and environmentally-healthy specifications. Fusions Jameen also built other schemes such as Lowther Hill.
A recent film crowdfunded by the Architecture Foundation documents the challenging self-build process, and the sense of community that was established through that.