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Modernist Estates

Listing modernist homes for sale, focussing on London post-war estates, plus findings on the way, including books, interviews, films and upcoming events. I also do this: thingsyoucanbuy.co.uk
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Friday March 07, 2014
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Day dreamingI can’t work out which order these should be in, but here are my top ten Modernist flats I’d like to live in. 1. Lambert Jones Mews, Barbican, London EC2 Chamberlin Powell and Bon 2. St. George’s Fields, London W2 Patrick Hodgkinson 3. The Brunswick Centre, London WC1 Patrick Hodgkinson 4. 26 St James Place, London SW1Denys Lasdun 5. Branch Hill Estate, HampsteadBenson and Forsyth 6. Isokon, penthouse (where the Pritchards lived), Hampstead Wells Coates 7. The Water Gardens, London W2 8. Lillington Gardens, Pimlico Darbourne and Darke 9. Oakshott Court, London NW1 Peter Tabori 10. Great Arthur House, penthouse (west facing), Golden Lane Estate, London EC1Chamberlin Powell and Bon Image: St George’s Fields 

Day dreaming
I can’t work out which order these should be in, but here are my top ten Modernist flats I’d like to live in.

1. Lambert Jones Mews, Barbican, London EC2
Chamberlin Powell and Bon

2. St. George’s Fields, London W2
Patrick Hodgkinson

3. The Brunswick Centre, London WC1
Patrick Hodgkinson

4. 26 St James Place, London SW1
Denys Lasdun

5. Branch Hill Estate, Hampstead
Benson and Forsyth

6. Isokon, penthouse (where the Pritchards lived), Hampstead
Wells Coates

7. The Water Gardens, London W2

8. Lillington Gardens, Pimlico
Darbourne and Darke

9. Oakshott Court, London NW1
Peter Tabori

10. Great Arthur House, penthouse (west facing), Golden Lane Estate, London EC1
Chamberlin Powell and Bon

Image: St George’s Fields 

Posted http://tmblr.co/ZjNUYs19Qz_ux
Friday March 07, 2014
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2 Bedroom flatCorringhamCraven Hill GardensLondon W2£495 per week Designed in 1960-62 by Kenneth Frampton of Douglas Stephen & Partners, Corringham is a little-known gem, and was Grade-II listed by English Heritage in 1998. It has a 24-hour resident porter and a lovely communal garden. It even has its own a website, geek about it here.  There aren’t any pictures of the inside, which always makes me a bit worried.Apparently it’s split level and on the third floor. There’s a large reception room with space for dining which is open plan to a fitted kitchen. The master bedroom has built in wardrobes and a balcony which overlooks the residents garden. There is a further smaller double bedroom and a newly refurbished fully tiled bathroom. View the listing here.

2 Bedroom flat
Corringham
Craven Hill Gardens
London W2
£495 per week

Designed in 1960-62 by Kenneth Frampton of Douglas Stephen & Partners, Corringham is a little-known gem, and was Grade-II listed by English Heritage in 1998. It has a 24-hour resident porter and a lovely communal garden. It even has its own a website, geek about it here. 

There aren’t any pictures of the inside, which always makes me a bit worried.Apparently it’s split level and on the third floor. There’s a large reception room with space for dining which is open plan to a fitted kitchen. The master bedroom has built in wardrobes and a balcony which overlooks the residents garden. There is a further smaller double bedroom and a newly refurbished fully tiled bathroom.

View the listing here.

Posted http://tmblr.co/ZjNUYs19Qxl-H
Friday March 07, 2014
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1 Bedroom flatAlexandra and Ainsworth EstateRowley WayLondon NW8£300 per week If you don’t happen to have £275,000 in cash to buy one of these flats, how about renting instead? Most of the flats I’ve seen on this Neave Brown estate for rent, are in a pretty poor state. But this one looks nice, albeit without the original kitchen (and those brown tiles). The lack of floorplans on letting listings is frustrating, but essentially in comprises of a double bedroom, living room with full height windows leading onto a private terrace, and a modest size kitchen and bathroom, View the listing here. Don’t forget to click on the tags below for previous listing and info on this estate. 1 Bedroom flatAlexandra and Ainsworth EstateRowley WayLondon NW8£300 per week If you don’t happen to have £275,000 in cash to buy one of these flats, how about renting instead? Most of the flats I’ve seen on this Neave Brown estate for rent, are in a pretty poor state. But this one looks nice, albeit without the original kitchen (and those brown tiles). The lack of floorplans on letting listings is frustrating, but essentially in comprises of a double bedroom, living room with full height windows leading onto a private terrace, and a modest size kitchen and bathroom, View the listing here. Don’t forget to click on the tags below for previous listing and info on this estate. 1 Bedroom flatAlexandra and Ainsworth EstateRowley WayLondon NW8£300 per week If you don’t happen to have £275,000 in cash to buy one of these flats, how about renting instead? Most of the flats I’ve seen on this Neave Brown estate for rent, are in a pretty poor state. But this one looks nice, albeit without the original kitchen (and those brown tiles). The lack of floorplans on letting listings is frustrating, but essentially in comprises of a double bedroom, living room with full height windows leading onto a private terrace, and a modest size kitchen and bathroom, View the listing here. Don’t forget to click on the tags below for previous listing and info on this estate. 1 Bedroom flatAlexandra and Ainsworth EstateRowley WayLondon NW8£300 per week If you don’t happen to have £275,000 in cash to buy one of these flats, how about renting instead? Most of the flats I’ve seen on this Neave Brown estate for rent, are in a pretty poor state. But this one looks nice, albeit without the original kitchen (and those brown tiles). The lack of floorplans on letting listings is frustrating, but essentially in comprises of a double bedroom, living room with full height windows leading onto a private terrace, and a modest size kitchen and bathroom, View the listing here. Don’t forget to click on the tags below for previous listing and info on this estate.

1 Bedroom flat
Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate
Rowley Way
London NW8
£300 per week

If you don’t happen to have £275,000 in cash to buy one of these flats, how about renting instead? Most of the flats I’ve seen on this Neave Brown estate for rent, are in a pretty poor state. But this one looks nice, albeit without the original kitchen (and those brown tiles). The lack of floorplans on letting listings is frustrating, but essentially in comprises of a double bedroom, living room with full height windows leading onto a private terrace, and a modest size kitchen and bathroom,

View the listing here.

Don’t forget to click on the tags below for previous listing and info on this estate.

Posted http://tmblr.co/ZjNUYs19OPizU
Thursday March 06, 2014
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1 (2ish) Bedroom flatCrescent HouseGolden Lane EstateLondon EC1£365 per week I remember when this flat was for sale. Years ago — 2007 I think… it was in a terrible looking state. But since then the new owners have painstakingly stripped it back and sympathetically restored the kitchen and bathroom. I know it was painstaking as I used used to pass their window and for months I would a scaffolding tower in there and with people busily painting and stripping. Not that kind of stripping.  The layout on this flat is odd though. It’s at the end of the block, and it’s almost as if the architects were like, “errr, we’ve got more space left on this one, shall we just stick another room on?” Essentially its the standard Crescent House studio flat unit, with the louvered doors separating the sleeping area within the centre of the room, but there’s an extra room to the right — an actual bedroom! It’s also on the top floor, so there’s lovely a barrel vaulted ceiling. …So much for less waffling… View the listing here. 1 (2ish) Bedroom flatCrescent HouseGolden Lane EstateLondon EC1£365 per week I remember when this flat was for sale. Years ago — 2007 I think… it was in a terrible looking state. But since then the new owners have painstakingly stripped it back and sympathetically restored the kitchen and bathroom. I know it was painstaking as I used used to pass their window and for months I would a scaffolding tower in there and with people busily painting and stripping. Not that kind of stripping.  The layout on this flat is odd though. It’s at the end of the block, and it’s almost as if the architects were like, “errr, we’ve got more space left on this one, shall we just stick another room on?” Essentially its the standard Crescent House studio flat unit, with the louvered doors separating the sleeping area within the centre of the room, but there’s an extra room to the right — an actual bedroom! It’s also on the top floor, so there’s lovely a barrel vaulted ceiling. …So much for less waffling… View the listing here. 1 (2ish) Bedroom flatCrescent HouseGolden Lane EstateLondon EC1£365 per week I remember when this flat was for sale. Years ago — 2007 I think… it was in a terrible looking state. But since then the new owners have painstakingly stripped it back and sympathetically restored the kitchen and bathroom. I know it was painstaking as I used used to pass their window and for months I would a scaffolding tower in there and with people busily painting and stripping. Not that kind of stripping.  The layout on this flat is odd though. It’s at the end of the block, and it’s almost as if the architects were like, “errr, we’ve got more space left on this one, shall we just stick another room on?” Essentially its the standard Crescent House studio flat unit, with the louvered doors separating the sleeping area within the centre of the room, but there’s an extra room to the right — an actual bedroom! It’s also on the top floor, so there’s lovely a barrel vaulted ceiling. …So much for less waffling… View the listing here. 1 (2ish) Bedroom flatCrescent HouseGolden Lane EstateLondon EC1£365 per week I remember when this flat was for sale. Years ago — 2007 I think… it was in a terrible looking state. But since then the new owners have painstakingly stripped it back and sympathetically restored the kitchen and bathroom. I know it was painstaking as I used used to pass their window and for months I would a scaffolding tower in there and with people busily painting and stripping. Not that kind of stripping.  The layout on this flat is odd though. It’s at the end of the block, and it’s almost as if the architects were like, “errr, we’ve got more space left on this one, shall we just stick another room on?” Essentially its the standard Crescent House studio flat unit, with the louvered doors separating the sleeping area within the centre of the room, but there’s an extra room to the right — an actual bedroom! It’s also on the top floor, so there’s lovely a barrel vaulted ceiling. …So much for less waffling… View the listing here. 1 (2ish) Bedroom flatCrescent HouseGolden Lane EstateLondon EC1£365 per week I remember when this flat was for sale. Years ago — 2007 I think… it was in a terrible looking state. But since then the new owners have painstakingly stripped it back and sympathetically restored the kitchen and bathroom. I know it was painstaking as I used used to pass their window and for months I would a scaffolding tower in there and with people busily painting and stripping. Not that kind of stripping.  The layout on this flat is odd though. It’s at the end of the block, and it’s almost as if the architects were like, “errr, we’ve got more space left on this one, shall we just stick another room on?” Essentially its the standard Crescent House studio flat unit, with the louvered doors separating the sleeping area within the centre of the room, but there’s an extra room to the right — an actual bedroom! It’s also on the top floor, so there’s lovely a barrel vaulted ceiling. …So much for less waffling… View the listing here.

1 (2ish) Bedroom flat
Crescent House
Golden Lane Estate
London EC1
£365 per week

I remember when this flat was for sale. Years ago — 2007 I think… it was in a terrible looking state. But since then the new owners have painstakingly stripped it back and sympathetically restored the kitchen and bathroom. I know it was painstaking as I used used to pass their window and for months I would a scaffolding tower in there and with people busily painting and stripping. Not that kind of stripping. 

The layout on this flat is odd though. It’s at the end of the block, and it’s almost as if the architects were like, “errr, we’ve got more space left on this one, shall we just stick another room on?” Essentially its the standard Crescent House studio flat unit, with the louvered doors separating the sleeping area within the centre of the room, but there’s an extra room to the right — an actual bedroom!

It’s also on the top floor, so there’s lovely a barrel vaulted ceiling. …So much for less waffling…

View the listing here.

Posted http://tmblr.co/ZjNUYs19OCb1d
Thursday March 06, 2014
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2 Bedroom flat Keeling HouseLondon E2£400 a week I’ve been getting several requests recently to list rental properties. The truth of the matter is there’s just not enough hours in the day to trawl through sales and letting that are on the market. I often also get asked how I find properties— if there’s a magic way where these properties just appear in front of my eyes. There isn’t. It’s an obsessive laborious trawl through Zoopla and Rightmove and such. Every day, twice a day. Anyway, I’ve spent the last couple of days looking for worthwhile propertiesthat are on the market for rent. I’m not going to give much of a background on the specific buildings as I’ve written about them before, but if you click on the hashtag at the bottom of this post, you should find previous listing with a bit more info on the architect etc. Right, first up is this two bedroom flat in Denys Lasdun’s Keeling house. It looks alright. View the listing here. 2 Bedroom flat Keeling HouseLondon E2£400 a week I’ve been getting several requests recently to list rental properties. The truth of the matter is there’s just not enough hours in the day to trawl through sales and letting that are on the market. I often also get asked how I find properties— if there’s a magic way where these properties just appear in front of my eyes. There isn’t. It’s an obsessive laborious trawl through Zoopla and Rightmove and such. Every day, twice a day. Anyway, I’ve spent the last couple of days looking for worthwhile propertiesthat are on the market for rent. I’m not going to give much of a background on the specific buildings as I’ve written about them before, but if you click on the hashtag at the bottom of this post, you should find previous listing with a bit more info on the architect etc. Right, first up is this two bedroom flat in Denys Lasdun’s Keeling house. It looks alright. View the listing here. 2 Bedroom flat Keeling HouseLondon E2£400 a week I’ve been getting several requests recently to list rental properties. The truth of the matter is there’s just not enough hours in the day to trawl through sales and letting that are on the market. I often also get asked how I find properties— if there’s a magic way where these properties just appear in front of my eyes. There isn’t. It’s an obsessive laborious trawl through Zoopla and Rightmove and such. Every day, twice a day. Anyway, I’ve spent the last couple of days looking for worthwhile propertiesthat are on the market for rent. I’m not going to give much of a background on the specific buildings as I’ve written about them before, but if you click on the hashtag at the bottom of this post, you should find previous listing with a bit more info on the architect etc. Right, first up is this two bedroom flat in Denys Lasdun’s Keeling house. It looks alright. View the listing here.

2 Bedroom flat 
Keeling House
London E2
£400 a week

I’ve been getting several requests recently to list rental properties. The truth of the matter is there’s just not enough hours in the day to trawl through sales and letting that are on the market. I often also get asked how I find properties— if there’s a magic way where these properties just appear in front of my eyes. There isn’t. It’s an obsessive laborious trawl through Zoopla and Rightmove and such. Every day, twice a day. Anyway, I’ve spent the last couple of days looking for worthwhile propertiesthat are on the market for rent. I’m not going to give much of a background on the specific buildings as I’ve written about them before, but if you click on the hashtag at the bottom of this post, you should find previous listing with a bit more info on the architect etc.

Right, first up is this two bedroom flat in Denys Lasdun’s Keeling house. It looks alright. View the listing here.

Posted http://tmblr.co/ZjNUYs19G8Hnj
Wednesday March 05, 2014
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3 Bedroom flatDunboyne Road EstateLondon NW3£575,000 I’ve not seen one of these up for sale before. What a treat! Well, I mean, it looks terrible inside so you’ll have to use your imagination a bit. For those of you unfamiliar with this estate, it’s the Grade II listed estate by Neave Brown in Gospel Oak. It was designed in 1966 and built between 1971 and 1977 and contains 71 flats (a mixture of 3, 2 and 1 bedrooms) arranged in three parallel blocks on a rectangular site. It was a precursor to Brown’s Grade II* Alexandra Road Estate, and was one of the first applications of low-rise complex section planning to a local authority estate.  It was granted Grade II listing in 2010, if you want to know more about the estate read this. The estate has been subject to recent renovations (not sure if it’s still going on?) with leaseholder facing massive bills. This particular flat says it has new double glazing, and thank goodness for the listing — no plastic windows. If the asking price is anything to go by, I’m presuming this estate doesn’t face the same mortgage issues as Rowley Way. View the listing here. First image courtesy of Simon Brandon/Inside Housing  3 Bedroom flatDunboyne Road EstateLondon NW3£575,000 I’ve not seen one of these up for sale before. What a treat! Well, I mean, it looks terrible inside so you’ll have to use your imagination a bit. For those of you unfamiliar with this estate, it’s the Grade II listed estate by Neave Brown in Gospel Oak. It was designed in 1966 and built between 1971 and 1977 and contains 71 flats (a mixture of 3, 2 and 1 bedrooms) arranged in three parallel blocks on a rectangular site. It was a precursor to Brown’s Grade II* Alexandra Road Estate, and was one of the first applications of low-rise complex section planning to a local authority estate.  It was granted Grade II listing in 2010, if you want to know more about the estate read this. The estate has been subject to recent renovations (not sure if it’s still going on?) with leaseholder facing massive bills. This particular flat says it has new double glazing, and thank goodness for the listing — no plastic windows. If the asking price is anything to go by, I’m presuming this estate doesn’t face the same mortgage issues as Rowley Way. View the listing here. First image courtesy of Simon Brandon/Inside Housing  3 Bedroom flatDunboyne Road EstateLondon NW3£575,000 I’ve not seen one of these up for sale before. What a treat! Well, I mean, it looks terrible inside so you’ll have to use your imagination a bit. For those of you unfamiliar with this estate, it’s the Grade II listed estate by Neave Brown in Gospel Oak. It was designed in 1966 and built between 1971 and 1977 and contains 71 flats (a mixture of 3, 2 and 1 bedrooms) arranged in three parallel blocks on a rectangular site. It was a precursor to Brown’s Grade II* Alexandra Road Estate, and was one of the first applications of low-rise complex section planning to a local authority estate.  It was granted Grade II listing in 2010, if you want to know more about the estate read this. The estate has been subject to recent renovations (not sure if it’s still going on?) with leaseholder facing massive bills. This particular flat says it has new double glazing, and thank goodness for the listing — no plastic windows. If the asking price is anything to go by, I’m presuming this estate doesn’t face the same mortgage issues as Rowley Way. View the listing here. First image courtesy of Simon Brandon/Inside Housing  3 Bedroom flatDunboyne Road EstateLondon NW3£575,000 I’ve not seen one of these up for sale before. What a treat! Well, I mean, it looks terrible inside so you’ll have to use your imagination a bit. For those of you unfamiliar with this estate, it’s the Grade II listed estate by Neave Brown in Gospel Oak. It was designed in 1966 and built between 1971 and 1977 and contains 71 flats (a mixture of 3, 2 and 1 bedrooms) arranged in three parallel blocks on a rectangular site. It was a precursor to Brown’s Grade II* Alexandra Road Estate, and was one of the first applications of low-rise complex section planning to a local authority estate.  It was granted Grade II listing in 2010, if you want to know more about the estate read this. The estate has been subject to recent renovations (not sure if it’s still going on?) with leaseholder facing massive bills. This particular flat says it has new double glazing, and thank goodness for the listing — no plastic windows. If the asking price is anything to go by, I’m presuming this estate doesn’t face the same mortgage issues as Rowley Way. View the listing here. First image courtesy of Simon Brandon/Inside Housing  3 Bedroom flatDunboyne Road EstateLondon NW3£575,000 I’ve not seen one of these up for sale before. What a treat! Well, I mean, it looks terrible inside so you’ll have to use your imagination a bit. For those of you unfamiliar with this estate, it’s the Grade II listed estate by Neave Brown in Gospel Oak. It was designed in 1966 and built between 1971 and 1977 and contains 71 flats (a mixture of 3, 2 and 1 bedrooms) arranged in three parallel blocks on a rectangular site. It was a precursor to Brown’s Grade II* Alexandra Road Estate, and was one of the first applications of low-rise complex section planning to a local authority estate.  It was granted Grade II listing in 2010, if you want to know more about the estate read this. The estate has been subject to recent renovations (not sure if it’s still going on?) with leaseholder facing massive bills. This particular flat says it has new double glazing, and thank goodness for the listing — no plastic windows. If the asking price is anything to go by, I’m presuming this estate doesn’t face the same mortgage issues as Rowley Way. View the listing here. First image courtesy of Simon Brandon/Inside Housing 

3 Bedroom flat
Dunboyne Road Estate
London NW3
£575,000

I’ve not seen one of these up for sale before. What a treat! Well, I mean, it looks terrible inside so you’ll have to use your imagination a bit. For those of you unfamiliar with this estate, it’s the Grade II listed estate by Neave Brown in Gospel Oak.

It was designed in 1966 and built between 1971 and 1977 and contains 71 flats (a mixture of 3, 2 and 1 bedrooms) arranged in three parallel blocks on a rectangular site. It was a precursor to Brown’s Grade II* Alexandra Road Estate, and was one of the first applications of low-rise complex section planning to a local authority estate. 

It was granted Grade II listing in 2010, if you want to know more about the estate read this. The estate has been subject to recent renovations (not sure if it’s still going on?) with leaseholder facing massive bills. This particular flat says it has new double glazing, and thank goodness for the listing — no plastic windows.

If the asking price is anything to go by, I’m presuming this estate doesn’t face the same mortgage issues as Rowley Way. View the listing here.

First image courtesy of Simon Brandon/Inside Housing 

Posted http://tmblr.co/ZjNUYs19CSe6Z
Tuesday March 04, 2014
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3 Bedroom flatJames Brine HouseDorset EstateLondon E2Offers over £400,000(£4908 per square metre) A three bedroom duplex in one of the low rise blocks, forming part of the Dorset estate, so called after the Tolpuddle martyrs. The estate is situated between Diss and Ravenscroft streets off Hackney Road. Designed by Skinner, Bailey & Lubetkin (Tecton) the Dorset estate was the first to feature high-level blocks, with two 11storeyed Y-shaped buildings (George Loveless and James Hammett houses) on the north, four 4-storeyed houses (James Brine House) to the south, and two more (Robert Owen and Arthur Wade houses) on the south side of Baroness Road. The estate, completed by 1957 and officially opened with 266 flats in 1958, marked a change in municipal housing, with the emphasis on height and reinforced concrete. You enter this particular flat on the second floor, where you will find a large living room and the kitchen, and upstairs there are three decent sized bedrooms and the bathroom. All needing a bit of TLC. It’s I interesting to see that the windows haven’t been replaced with plastic, but worth checking out whether there are plans too, as if there are you’ll be footed with a large service charge bill. I’m also surprised to see there’s no built in storage in the flats. Tut tut Tecton. View the listing here. 3 Bedroom flatJames Brine HouseDorset EstateLondon E2Offers over £400,000(£4908 per square metre) A three bedroom duplex in one of the low rise blocks, forming part of the Dorset estate, so called after the Tolpuddle martyrs. The estate is situated between Diss and Ravenscroft streets off Hackney Road. Designed by Skinner, Bailey & Lubetkin (Tecton) the Dorset estate was the first to feature high-level blocks, with two 11storeyed Y-shaped buildings (George Loveless and James Hammett houses) on the north, four 4-storeyed houses (James Brine House) to the south, and two more (Robert Owen and Arthur Wade houses) on the south side of Baroness Road. The estate, completed by 1957 and officially opened with 266 flats in 1958, marked a change in municipal housing, with the emphasis on height and reinforced concrete. You enter this particular flat on the second floor, where you will find a large living room and the kitchen, and upstairs there are three decent sized bedrooms and the bathroom. All needing a bit of TLC. It’s I interesting to see that the windows haven’t been replaced with plastic, but worth checking out whether there are plans too, as if there are you’ll be footed with a large service charge bill. I’m also surprised to see there’s no built in storage in the flats. Tut tut Tecton. View the listing here. 3 Bedroom flatJames Brine HouseDorset EstateLondon E2Offers over £400,000(£4908 per square metre) A three bedroom duplex in one of the low rise blocks, forming part of the Dorset estate, so called after the Tolpuddle martyrs. The estate is situated between Diss and Ravenscroft streets off Hackney Road. Designed by Skinner, Bailey & Lubetkin (Tecton) the Dorset estate was the first to feature high-level blocks, with two 11storeyed Y-shaped buildings (George Loveless and James Hammett houses) on the north, four 4-storeyed houses (James Brine House) to the south, and two more (Robert Owen and Arthur Wade houses) on the south side of Baroness Road. The estate, completed by 1957 and officially opened with 266 flats in 1958, marked a change in municipal housing, with the emphasis on height and reinforced concrete. You enter this particular flat on the second floor, where you will find a large living room and the kitchen, and upstairs there are three decent sized bedrooms and the bathroom. All needing a bit of TLC. It’s I interesting to see that the windows haven’t been replaced with plastic, but worth checking out whether there are plans too, as if there are you’ll be footed with a large service charge bill. I’m also surprised to see there’s no built in storage in the flats. Tut tut Tecton. View the listing here. 3 Bedroom flatJames Brine HouseDorset EstateLondon E2Offers over £400,000(£4908 per square metre) A three bedroom duplex in one of the low rise blocks, forming part of the Dorset estate, so called after the Tolpuddle martyrs. The estate is situated between Diss and Ravenscroft streets off Hackney Road. Designed by Skinner, Bailey & Lubetkin (Tecton) the Dorset estate was the first to feature high-level blocks, with two 11storeyed Y-shaped buildings (George Loveless and James Hammett houses) on the north, four 4-storeyed houses (James Brine House) to the south, and two more (Robert Owen and Arthur Wade houses) on the south side of Baroness Road. The estate, completed by 1957 and officially opened with 266 flats in 1958, marked a change in municipal housing, with the emphasis on height and reinforced concrete. You enter this particular flat on the second floor, where you will find a large living room and the kitchen, and upstairs there are three decent sized bedrooms and the bathroom. All needing a bit of TLC. It’s I interesting to see that the windows haven’t been replaced with plastic, but worth checking out whether there are plans too, as if there are you’ll be footed with a large service charge bill. I’m also surprised to see there’s no built in storage in the flats. Tut tut Tecton. View the listing here. 3 Bedroom flatJames Brine HouseDorset EstateLondon E2Offers over £400,000(£4908 per square metre) A three bedroom duplex in one of the low rise blocks, forming part of the Dorset estate, so called after the Tolpuddle martyrs. The estate is situated between Diss and Ravenscroft streets off Hackney Road. Designed by Skinner, Bailey & Lubetkin (Tecton) the Dorset estate was the first to feature high-level blocks, with two 11storeyed Y-shaped buildings (George Loveless and James Hammett houses) on the north, four 4-storeyed houses (James Brine House) to the south, and two more (Robert Owen and Arthur Wade houses) on the south side of Baroness Road. The estate, completed by 1957 and officially opened with 266 flats in 1958, marked a change in municipal housing, with the emphasis on height and reinforced concrete. You enter this particular flat on the second floor, where you will find a large living room and the kitchen, and upstairs there are three decent sized bedrooms and the bathroom. All needing a bit of TLC. It’s I interesting to see that the windows haven’t been replaced with plastic, but worth checking out whether there are plans too, as if there are you’ll be footed with a large service charge bill. I’m also surprised to see there’s no built in storage in the flats. Tut tut Tecton. View the listing here.

3 Bedroom flat
James Brine House
Dorset Estate
London E2
Offers over £400,000
(£4908 per square metre)

A three bedroom duplex in one of the low rise blocks, forming part of the Dorset estate, so called after the Tolpuddle martyrs. The estate is situated between Diss and Ravenscroft streets off Hackney Road. Designed by Skinner, Bailey & Lubetkin (Tecton) the Dorset estate was the first to feature high-level blocks, with two 11storeyed Y-shaped buildings (George Loveless and James Hammett houses) on the north, four 4-storeyed houses (James Brine House) to the south, and two more (Robert Owen and Arthur Wade houses) on the south side of Baroness Road. The estate, completed by 1957 and officially opened with 266 flats in 1958, marked a change in municipal housing, with the emphasis on height and reinforced concrete.
You enter this particular flat on the second floor, where you will find a large living room and the kitchen, and upstairs there are three decent sized bedrooms and the bathroom. All needing a bit of TLC. It’s I interesting to see that the windows haven’t been replaced with plastic, but worth checking out whether there are plans too, as if there are you’ll be footed with a large service charge bill. I’m also surprised to see there’s no built in storage in the flats. Tut tut Tecton.
View the listing here.
Posted http://tmblr.co/ZjNUYs193Lhlr
Monday March 03, 2014
video

Thamesmead: 21st Century Town
The story of the rise, fall and rise of Thamesmead, the 60’s new town in East London that became synonymous with Clockwork Orange-style violence.
This video is the first ten minutes of the fifty four minute film, available from chocolatefilms.com

Posted http://tmblr.co/ZjNUYs193FQ75
Monday March 03, 2014
video

The Living City, 1970
A film illustrating the major part taken by local government in the physical and social redevelopment of the City of London. With footage of the Barbican Estate in construction, plus also (about 20 mins in) Golden Lane Estate, which I handn’t seen before, what a treat!

Made by the Corporation of London for publicity purposes.

Posted http://tmblr.co/ZjNUYs18lp_jx
Friday February 28, 2014
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Twentieth Century Society EventGreat Arthur House—Golden Lane Estate Casework22 March, 2–5pm£15 (members only) I’ve been trying to buy one of these flats for YEARS. I really thought it was just a matter of time until one came on, I would swoop in and I would be ten storeys high with a view of the BT Tower. But one came on the market a week ago at £400,000 and with estimated service charge of £51,000, it’s already under offer. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that it’s not gonna happen. I either stay where I am and shut up, or move to say Zone 2, or 3, or, oh god, even 4.  The reason that the leaseholders are being faced with an eye watering bill, is that the curtain walling of the whole building is going to be replaced with shiny new double glazed variety. Plans for this have been in the pipeline for over a decade, maybe closer to 15 years. But finally it’s actually meant to be happening. This year!  To find out more I’m gong to go along to this event lead by Ian McInnes and Henrietta Billings, looking in detail at John Robertson Architects’ recladding scheme. The architect will give a presentation on his proposals and there’s a chance to visit a flat and go to the roof.  More here.

Twentieth Century Society Event
Great Arthur House—Golden Lane Estate Casework
22 March, 2–5pm
£15 (members only)

I’ve been trying to buy one of these flats for YEARS. I really thought it was just a matter of time until one came on, I would swoop in and I would be ten storeys high with a view of the BT Tower. But one came on the market a week ago at £400,000 and with estimated service charge of £51,000, it’s already under offer. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that it’s not gonna happen. I either stay where I am and shut up, or move to say Zone 2, or 3, or, oh god, even 4. 

The reason that the leaseholders are being faced with an eye watering bill, is that the curtain walling of the whole building is going to be replaced with shiny new double glazed variety. Plans for this have been in the pipeline for over a decade, maybe closer to 15 years. But finally it’s actually meant to be happening. This year!  To find out more I’m gong to go along to this event lead by Ian McInnes and Henrietta Billings, looking in detail at John Robertson Architects’ recladding scheme. The architect will give a presentation on his proposals and there’s a chance to visit a flat and go to the roof. 

More here.

Posted http://tmblr.co/ZjNUYs18kv8-N
Friday February 28, 2014
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1 Bedroom flatCrescent HouseGolden Lane EstateLondon EC1(£11,269 per square metre) This morning I woke up to the news that British house prices recorded their biggest annual rise in nearly four years. But in year-on-year terms, house prices in February were 9.4 percent higher than in the same month last year, stronger than a rise of 8.8 percent in the 12 months to January and the biggest annual jump since May 2010. But according to Nationwide, prices remained about 3 percent below their peak in 2007. Not so with this flat. If you need any proof that London house prices are overheating, take a look at this price. At it’s 2007 peak, such a flat would have cost you £315,000, after the crash, in 2010 a similar flat sold for £260,000. Today it’s £435,000. It’s all a bit bonkers.  View the listing here. 1 Bedroom flatCrescent HouseGolden Lane EstateLondon EC1(£11,269 per square metre) This morning I woke up to the news that British house prices recorded their biggest annual rise in nearly four years. But in year-on-year terms, house prices in February were 9.4 percent higher than in the same month last year, stronger than a rise of 8.8 percent in the 12 months to January and the biggest annual jump since May 2010. But according to Nationwide, prices remained about 3 percent below their peak in 2007. Not so with this flat. If you need any proof that London house prices are overheating, take a look at this price. At it’s 2007 peak, such a flat would have cost you £315,000, after the crash, in 2010 a similar flat sold for £260,000. Today it’s £435,000. It’s all a bit bonkers.  View the listing here. 1 Bedroom flatCrescent HouseGolden Lane EstateLondon EC1(£11,269 per square metre) This morning I woke up to the news that British house prices recorded their biggest annual rise in nearly four years. But in year-on-year terms, house prices in February were 9.4 percent higher than in the same month last year, stronger than a rise of 8.8 percent in the 12 months to January and the biggest annual jump since May 2010. But according to Nationwide, prices remained about 3 percent below their peak in 2007. Not so with this flat. If you need any proof that London house prices are overheating, take a look at this price. At it’s 2007 peak, such a flat would have cost you £315,000, after the crash, in 2010 a similar flat sold for £260,000. Today it’s £435,000. It’s all a bit bonkers.  View the listing here. 1 Bedroom flatCrescent HouseGolden Lane EstateLondon EC1(£11,269 per square metre) This morning I woke up to the news that British house prices recorded their biggest annual rise in nearly four years. But in year-on-year terms, house prices in February were 9.4 percent higher than in the same month last year, stronger than a rise of 8.8 percent in the 12 months to January and the biggest annual jump since May 2010. But according to Nationwide, prices remained about 3 percent below their peak in 2007. Not so with this flat. If you need any proof that London house prices are overheating, take a look at this price. At it’s 2007 peak, such a flat would have cost you £315,000, after the crash, in 2010 a similar flat sold for £260,000. Today it’s £435,000. It’s all a bit bonkers.  View the listing here. 1 Bedroom flatCrescent HouseGolden Lane EstateLondon EC1(£11,269 per square metre) This morning I woke up to the news that British house prices recorded their biggest annual rise in nearly four years. But in year-on-year terms, house prices in February were 9.4 percent higher than in the same month last year, stronger than a rise of 8.8 percent in the 12 months to January and the biggest annual jump since May 2010. But according to Nationwide, prices remained about 3 percent below their peak in 2007. Not so with this flat. If you need any proof that London house prices are overheating, take a look at this price. At it’s 2007 peak, such a flat would have cost you £315,000, after the crash, in 2010 a similar flat sold for £260,000. Today it’s £435,000. It’s all a bit bonkers.  View the listing here. 1 Bedroom flatCrescent HouseGolden Lane EstateLondon EC1(£11,269 per square metre) This morning I woke up to the news that British house prices recorded their biggest annual rise in nearly four years. But in year-on-year terms, house prices in February were 9.4 percent higher than in the same month last year, stronger than a rise of 8.8 percent in the 12 months to January and the biggest annual jump since May 2010. But according to Nationwide, prices remained about 3 percent below their peak in 2007. Not so with this flat. If you need any proof that London house prices are overheating, take a look at this price. At it’s 2007 peak, such a flat would have cost you £315,000, after the crash, in 2010 a similar flat sold for £260,000. Today it’s £435,000. It’s all a bit bonkers.  View the listing here. 1 Bedroom flatCrescent HouseGolden Lane EstateLondon EC1(£11,269 per square metre) This morning I woke up to the news that British house prices recorded their biggest annual rise in nearly four years. But in year-on-year terms, house prices in February were 9.4 percent higher than in the same month last year, stronger than a rise of 8.8 percent in the 12 months to January and the biggest annual jump since May 2010. But according to Nationwide, prices remained about 3 percent below their peak in 2007. Not so with this flat. If you need any proof that London house prices are overheating, take a look at this price. At it’s 2007 peak, such a flat would have cost you £315,000, after the crash, in 2010 a similar flat sold for £260,000. Today it’s £435,000. It’s all a bit bonkers.  View the listing here.

1 Bedroom flat
Crescent House
Golden Lane Estate
London EC1
(£11,269 per square metre)

This morning I woke up to the news that British house prices recorded their biggest annual rise in nearly four years.

But in year-on-year terms, house prices in February were 9.4 percent higher than in the same month last year, stronger than a rise of 8.8 percent in the 12 months to January and the biggest annual jump since May 2010.

But according to Nationwide, prices remained about 3 percent below their peak in 2007. Not so with this flat. If you need any proof that London house prices are overheating, take a look at this price.

At it’s 2007 peak, such a flat would have cost you £315,000, after the crash, in 2010 a similar flat sold for £260,000. Today it’s £435,000. It’s all a bit bonkers. 

View the listing here.

Posted http://tmblr.co/ZjNUYs18fbXV-
Thursday February 27, 2014
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3 Bedroom flatPriory Green EstateLondon N1£415,000Priory Green, the post war estate by Lubetkin, was taken over by Peabody in 1998 after it had become run down and crime ridden. I took a walk around the estate during the Open House weekend last year, it looked ok, so at least externally they seem to have done a good job. There were children playing in the play park, as they should be, and a general tranquility to the place. A similar property on this estate was on the market for £350,000 last October. With the same estate agent (could it even be the same one?). Anyway, this 3 bedroom flat has been rented out, so it looks rubbish at the moment. View the listing here.

3 Bedroom flat
Priory Green Estate
London N1
£415,000

Priory Green, the post war estate by Lubetkin, was taken over by Peabody in 1998 after it had become run down and crime ridden. I took a walk around the estate during the Open House weekend last year, it looked ok, so at least externally they seem to have done a good job. There were children playing in the play park, as they should be, and a general tranquility to the place.

A similar property on this estate was on the market for £350,000 last October. With the same estate agent (could it even be the same one?). Anyway, this 3 bedroom flat has been rented out, so it looks rubbish at the moment.

View the listing here.

Posted http://tmblr.co/ZjNUYs18fahPx
Thursday February 27, 2014
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2 Bedroom flatSpangateBlackheathLondon SE3£425,000This flat has only been on the market for a couple of week, but it’s already been reduced by £25,000. Which is a surprise as Span properties have been selling like hot cakes recently. Perhaps a sign that the owner wants to sell quickly. There aren’t enough images of the inside to really tell what kind of condition it’s in, but the listing states in needs some modernisation (a good thing probably). Spangate is an elegant block, designed by Eric Lyons and completed in 1964 and consists of 17 flats. View the listing here. 2 Bedroom flatSpangateBlackheathLondon SE3£425,000This flat has only been on the market for a couple of week, but it’s already been reduced by £25,000. Which is a surprise as Span properties have been selling like hot cakes recently. Perhaps a sign that the owner wants to sell quickly. There aren’t enough images of the inside to really tell what kind of condition it’s in, but the listing states in needs some modernisation (a good thing probably). Spangate is an elegant block, designed by Eric Lyons and completed in 1964 and consists of 17 flats. View the listing here.

2 Bedroom flat
Spangate
Blackheath
London SE3
£425,000

This flat has only been on the market for a couple of week, but it’s already been reduced by £25,000. Which is a surprise as Span properties have been selling like hot cakes recently. Perhaps a sign that the owner wants to sell quickly. 

There aren’t enough images of the inside to really tell what kind of condition it’s in, but the listing states in needs some modernisation (a good thing probably). Spangate is an elegant block, designed by Eric Lyons and completed in 1964 and consists of 17 flats.

View the listing here.

Posted http://tmblr.co/ZjNUYs18fYuG6
Thursday February 27, 2014
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1 Bedroom flatPullman CourtLondon SW2£215,000(£5,000 per square metre) We’ve listed a number of flats in Pullman Court in the past, in fact, there’s a few on the market right now. All in need of a little shuzzhing up. This one is a one bedroom, on what seems to be (judging from the view from the windows) a fairly low floor.The site at Pullman Court, according to the residents forum, was acquired by developer Bernstein who recognised that there was a market for good quality accommodation for the young professional classes, who required one and two bedroom flats which are easy to manage and conveniently located for transport to London. To realise his aim, he commissioned a young architect, Frederick Gibberd, then 23 years old, who produced an exciting modern design in keeping with the spirit of the age.There was a considerable opposition to the development, not only because of its striking appearance; it was felt by nearby residents that housing for single people was bound to encourage prostitution. Eventually this mix was adjusted to include some larger units at the front which could be occupied by young families, and be thought to discourage such activities.Pullman Court comprises five three-storey direct access blocks fronting Streatham hill; two five-storey gallery access blocks along the central driveway and two seven-storey cruciform blocks at the rear of the site overlooking the covered reservoir of the Lambeth waterworks. A total of 218 flats were provided, in a variety of one to four room units.According to my friend Mem Morrison — former resident and modernist architecture aficionado — it’s a great place to live and the flats are fantastic with a strong residents committee and long term plans to restore the exterior to its original colours of pinks, blues and caramel.View the listing here. 1 Bedroom flatPullman CourtLondon SW2£215,000(£5,000 per square metre) We’ve listed a number of flats in Pullman Court in the past, in fact, there’s a few on the market right now. All in need of a little shuzzhing up. This one is a one bedroom, on what seems to be (judging from the view from the windows) a fairly low floor.The site at Pullman Court, according to the residents forum, was acquired by developer Bernstein who recognised that there was a market for good quality accommodation for the young professional classes, who required one and two bedroom flats which are easy to manage and conveniently located for transport to London. To realise his aim, he commissioned a young architect, Frederick Gibberd, then 23 years old, who produced an exciting modern design in keeping with the spirit of the age.There was a considerable opposition to the development, not only because of its striking appearance; it was felt by nearby residents that housing for single people was bound to encourage prostitution. Eventually this mix was adjusted to include some larger units at the front which could be occupied by young families, and be thought to discourage such activities.Pullman Court comprises five three-storey direct access blocks fronting Streatham hill; two five-storey gallery access blocks along the central driveway and two seven-storey cruciform blocks at the rear of the site overlooking the covered reservoir of the Lambeth waterworks. A total of 218 flats were provided, in a variety of one to four room units.According to my friend Mem Morrison — former resident and modernist architecture aficionado — it’s a great place to live and the flats are fantastic with a strong residents committee and long term plans to restore the exterior to its original colours of pinks, blues and caramel.View the listing here. 1 Bedroom flatPullman CourtLondon SW2£215,000(£5,000 per square metre) We’ve listed a number of flats in Pullman Court in the past, in fact, there’s a few on the market right now. All in need of a little shuzzhing up. This one is a one bedroom, on what seems to be (judging from the view from the windows) a fairly low floor.The site at Pullman Court, according to the residents forum, was acquired by developer Bernstein who recognised that there was a market for good quality accommodation for the young professional classes, who required one and two bedroom flats which are easy to manage and conveniently located for transport to London. To realise his aim, he commissioned a young architect, Frederick Gibberd, then 23 years old, who produced an exciting modern design in keeping with the spirit of the age.There was a considerable opposition to the development, not only because of its striking appearance; it was felt by nearby residents that housing for single people was bound to encourage prostitution. Eventually this mix was adjusted to include some larger units at the front which could be occupied by young families, and be thought to discourage such activities.Pullman Court comprises five three-storey direct access blocks fronting Streatham hill; two five-storey gallery access blocks along the central driveway and two seven-storey cruciform blocks at the rear of the site overlooking the covered reservoir of the Lambeth waterworks. A total of 218 flats were provided, in a variety of one to four room units.According to my friend Mem Morrison — former resident and modernist architecture aficionado — it’s a great place to live and the flats are fantastic with a strong residents committee and long term plans to restore the exterior to its original colours of pinks, blues and caramel.View the listing here.

1 Bedroom flat
Pullman Court
London SW2
£215,000
(£5,000 per square metre)

We’ve listed a number of flats in Pullman Court in the past, in fact, there’s a few on the market right now. All in need of a little shuzzhing up. This one is a one bedroom, on what seems to be (judging from the view from the windows) a fairly low floor.

The site at Pullman Court, according to the residents forum, was acquired by developer Bernstein who recognised that there was a market for good quality accommodation for the young professional classes, who required one and two bedroom flats which are easy to manage and conveniently located for transport to London. To realise his aim, he commissioned a young architect, Frederick Gibberd, then 23 years old, who produced an exciting modern design in keeping with the spirit of the age.

There was a considerable opposition to the development, not only because of its striking appearance; it was felt by nearby residents that housing for single people was bound to encourage prostitution. Eventually this mix was adjusted to include some larger units at the front which could be occupied by young families, and be thought to discourage such activities.

Pullman Court comprises five three-storey direct access blocks fronting Streatham hill; two five-storey gallery access blocks along the central driveway and two seven-storey cruciform blocks at the rear of the site overlooking the covered reservoir of the Lambeth waterworks. A total of 218 flats were provided, in a variety of one to four room units.

According to my friend Mem Morrison — former resident and modernist architecture aficionado — it’s a great place to live and the flats are fantastic with a strong residents committee and long term plans to restore the exterior to its original colours of pinks, blues and caramel.

View the listing here.

Posted http://tmblr.co/ZjNUYs18He5un
Sunday February 23, 2014
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Modernist DreamsPete CollardOur next contributor to Modernist Dreams is contemporary design and architecture curator Pete Collard. Pete works at the Design Museum where his research takes him to visit the finest examples of modernist architecture around the UK and beyond. He is currently splitting his time between London and Prague which might explain the Czech bias of this list.  1Villa Tugendhat, Brno, Czech RepublicMIes van der RoheThis list is in particular order but I’ll start with the Villa Tugendhat because I currently live in the Czech Republic. The project was van der Rohe’s last major residence in Europe, designed and built during the same period as more famous German Pavilion for the Barcelona Worlds Fair in 1929. The house is built into a steep incline above the town, meaning the low angle of the sun perfectly illuminates the thin onyx marble wall that divides the property if you visit in winter. There is a very Heath Robinson-esque electrical system that opens the glass facades in the lounge, allowing the entire room to be opened to the gardens outside. A similarly complex air-ventilation system housed in the basement also demonstrates the acutely modernist approaches to new technology. The cost of the original construction was reported to be 5 million Czech krowns, enough to build thirty family sized houses at that time. This exhorbitant cost underlines the economic and cultural strength that Czechoslovakia enjoyed during the 1920s and 30s; when the house was completed it must have felt like the future had arrived to residents of Brno. 2Atwell House, El Cerrito, California, USARichard NeutraIn November I visited California for the first time, on what was originally planned to be a holiday but actually turned into a very ad-hoc Richard Neutra road-trip. In three weeks we managed to visit 48 Neutra buildings across the State, clocking up over 2500 miles in the process. A favourite would be hard to pick, but I will chose the Atwell House in El Cerrito. Originally offered 32 acres from which to pick a site, the architect visted several times over the course of a year before make his choice. Neutra chose extremely well and his design of the house carefully hides the stunning views of San Francisco Bay until you enter the property.  Another reason for choosing this house above the others was that the current owners could not have been more welcoming and didn’t mind unexpected overseas visitors turning up on a Sunday afternoon. Ben and Nancy bought the property around 10 years ago and are slowly restoring the house themselves to its original state. Despite the work ahead of them I don’t think I’ve ever seen happier home-owners and having spent an afternoon with them watching the sun set across the bay I can fully appreciate why. 32 Willow Road, London, UKErnő GoldfingerA bit obvious maybe but it’s a fine building. The Design Museum has an example of Goldfinger’s Entas chair in its permanent collection, a design that was used in a handful of the architects’s commercial and personal projects during the 1930s, including Willow Road. I recently curated a small display at the museum to tell the story behind the chair and as part of this we commissioned a short film about the house and its contents. Starting with the exterior at dawn, we slowly worked our way in and around the property, documenting the unique architectural spaces and features, as well as the personal possessions and effects of Goldfinger and his family.  Spending an extended period of time in the house gave me the chance to explore and understand better the rationale behind the myriad of unique design features that Goldfinger specified. In many ways the house was a prototype, something that the architect could use to try out various new ideas and materials. The National Trust has done a fantastic job in conserving the house and keeping it open to the public and if you haven’t been to visit already you really, really should.  4Mill Owner’s Association Building, Ahmedabad, IndiaLe CorbusierI used to work for the British Council and had the very good fortune to travel to India to work on a number of occasions. One particular trip took me to Ahmedabad to visit the National Insitute of Design and upon arriving early in the city I asked a taxi driver to take me to as many architectural treasures as I could manage in two hours. My favourite was Le Corbusier’s Mill Owner’s Association Building, the first of four projects that the Swiss architect completed in the city.  The current estates manager has done an excellent job in restoring foliage to the façade in recent years, something that was missing for a number of years. However, despite my praise for efforts, he was most insistent that I purchase some postcards before he would let me take any photos. I am going back to Ahmedabad next month and hope to gain access to Le Corbusier’s Villa Sarahbai across town, although using the roof slide into the swimming pool might be pushing things a bit.  5Bata Factory, East Tilbury, UKFrantizek Gahura & Vladimir KarfikTo conclude, another Czech project, albeit one built in England. The industrialist Tomáš Baťa created a global shoe-making empire during the first half of the 20th Century and central to his business philosophy was the welfare of his employees. To facilitate this Bata created a series of ‘company towns’ featuring housing and leisure facilities built next to his factories. In 1932 he built a factory and worker’s estate in East Tilbury, Essex, designed by Bata’s chief architects Frantizek Gahura and Vladimir Karfík.  The project pre-dates most British modernist architecture of the era and the design and layout followed closely the blueprint of the main Bata site in Zlin, a Constructivist garden utopia of 45,000 people built by the company in the south of Czechoslovakia. Today the factory in Essex is closed and without its main source of employment East Tilbury feels isolated and neglected on outer reaches of the Thames Estuary. Tomáš Baťa once famously pronouced “we are not afraid of the future” yet I somehow doubt he would feel quite the same now if he if saw the replacement uPVC windows and the occasional St. George’s flag draped from them. Images © Pete Collard

Modernist Dreams
Pete Collard

Our next contributor to Modernist Dreams is contemporary design and architecture curator Pete Collard. Pete works at the Design Museum where his research takes him to visit the finest examples of modernist architecture around the UK and beyond. He is currently splitting his time between London and Prague which might explain the Czech bias of this list. 

1
Villa Tugendhat, Brno, Czech Republic
MIes van der Rohe
This list is in particular order but I’ll start with the Villa Tugendhat because I currently live in the Czech Republic. The project was van der Rohe’s last major residence in Europe, designed and built during the same period as more famous German Pavilion for the Barcelona Worlds Fair in 1929. The house is built into a steep incline above the town, meaning the low angle of the sun perfectly illuminates the thin onyx marble wall that divides the property if you visit in winter.

There is a very Heath Robinson-esque electrical system that opens the glass facades in the lounge, allowing the entire room to be opened to the gardens outside. A similarly complex air-ventilation system housed in the basement also demonstrates the acutely modernist approaches to new technology. The cost of the original construction was reported to be 5 million Czech krowns, enough to build thirty family sized houses at that time. This exhorbitant cost underlines the economic and cultural strength that Czechoslovakia enjoyed during the 1920s and 30s; when the house was completed it must have felt like the future had arrived to residents of Brno.

2
Atwell House, El Cerrito, California, USA
Richard Neutra
In November I visited California for the first time, on what was originally planned to be a holiday but actually turned into a very ad-hoc Richard Neutra road-trip. In three weeks we managed to visit 48 Neutra buildings across the State, clocking up over 2500 miles in the process. A favourite would be hard to pick, but I will chose the Atwell House in El Cerrito. Originally offered 32 acres from which to pick a site, the architect visted several times over the course of a year before make his choice. Neutra chose extremely well and his design of the house carefully hides the stunning views of San Francisco Bay until you enter the property. 

Another reason for choosing this house above the others was that the current owners could not have been more welcoming and didn’t mind unexpected overseas visitors turning up on a Sunday afternoon. Ben and Nancy bought the property around 10 years ago and are slowly restoring the house themselves to its original state. Despite the work ahead of them I don’t think I’ve ever seen happier home-owners and having spent an afternoon with them watching the sun set across the bay I can fully appreciate why.

3
2 Willow Road, London, UK
Ernő Goldfinger
A bit obvious maybe but it’s a fine building. The Design Museum has an example of Goldfinger’s Entas chair in its permanent collection, a design that was used in a handful of the architects’s commercial and personal projects during the 1930s, including Willow Road. I recently curated a small display at the museum to tell the story behind the chair and as part of this we commissioned a short film about the house and its contents. Starting with the exterior at dawn, we slowly worked our way in and around the property, documenting the unique architectural spaces and features, as well as the personal possessions and effects of Goldfinger and his family. 

Spending an extended period of time in the house gave me the chance to explore and understand better the rationale behind the myriad of unique design features that Goldfinger specified. In many ways the house was a prototype, something that the architect could use to try out various new ideas and materials. The National Trust has done a fantastic job in conserving the house and keeping it open to the public and if you haven’t been to visit already you really, really should. 

4
Mill Owner’s Association Building, Ahmedabad, India
Le Corbusier
I used to work for the British Council and had the very good fortune to travel to India to work on a number of occasions. One particular trip took me to Ahmedabad to visit the National Insitute of Design and upon arriving early in the city I asked a taxi driver to take me to as many architectural treasures as I could manage in two hours. My favourite was Le Corbusier’s Mill Owner’s Association Building, the first of four projects that the Swiss architect completed in the city. 

The current estates manager has done an excellent job in restoring foliage to the façade in recent years, something that was missing for a number of years. However, despite my praise for efforts, he was most insistent that I purchase some postcards before he would let me take any photos. I am going back to Ahmedabad next month and hope to gain access to Le Corbusier’s Villa Sarahbai across town, although using the roof slide into the swimming pool might be pushing things a bit. 

5
Bata Factory, East Tilbury, UK
Frantizek Gahura & Vladimir Karfik
To conclude, another Czech project, albeit one built in England. The industrialist Tomáš Baťa created a global shoe-making empire during the first half of the 20th Century and central to his business philosophy was the welfare of his employees. To facilitate this Bata created a series of ‘company towns’ featuring housing and leisure facilities built next to his factories. In 1932 he built a factory and worker’s estate in East Tilbury, Essex, designed by Bata’s chief architects Frantizek Gahura and Vladimir Karfík. 

The project pre-dates most British modernist architecture of the era and the design and layout followed closely the blueprint of the main Bata site in Zlin, a Constructivist garden utopia of 45,000 people built by the company in the south of Czechoslovakia. Today the factory in Essex is closed and without its main source of employment East Tilbury feels isolated and neglected on outer reaches of the Thames Estuary. Tomáš Baťa once famously pronouced “we are not afraid of the future” yet I somehow doubt he would feel quite the same now if he if saw the replacement uPVC windows and the occasional St. George’s flag draped from them.

Images © Pete Collard