The architect Ernö Goldfinger designed and built the house as his family home in 1939. Goldfinger conceived the design for 1-3 Willow Road as both a functional home for his growing family and as an opportunity to explore his talents as an architect. The site was formerly occupied by four small cottages, facing a triangle of north-facing open land, and was perfect for reflecting Goldfinger's ideas for giving his buildings a sense of light and space. The central house of a terrace of three, it is one of Britain's most important examples of Modernist architecture and is filled with furniture also designed by Goldfinger.
In addition, many of the Goldfingers' friends were leading figures in the art world, who offered varied and often personal examples of their work to the collection. The art collection includes a number of significant British and European 20th-century works by Bridget Riley, Max Ernst and Henry Moore amongst others. Now on show throughout 2 Willow Road, these works help paint a vivid picture of the social and creative life of the architect and his wife.
In the same vein, The Homewood is a magnificent house and landscaped garden, in Esher, Surrey, designed by architect Patrick Gwynne. Its smopth, curved lines, geometric shapes and acres of glass reflect the style and ethos of the Modern Movement.
Of the property's main features, the central spiral staircase and the landscaped garden with its stream and series of ponds are among the most striking. The principal living area however, is the living room, a light, open-plan, multi-functional space whose smooth, functional appearance pays homage to the cabinet-maker's art. This is a room that exemplifies Modernism, from Gwynne's Eames lounge chair to the couch, attached to the wall, but which could be pivoted out so that the built-in projection screen could be raised and angled when Gwynne wanted to show his home movies - to the two seating and lounging areas for day-time near the windows, another for the evening centred on the fireplace. |
