While not necessarily small in size, the London home of modernist architect Ernö Goldfinger, which was designed in 1939 and is now a museum, employs a number of ingenious space-saving solutions that are still inspiring today.
Well-organized vertical shelving and a built-in desk in Ernö Goldfinger's studio, ©NTPL/Dennis Gilbert
The building, located at 2 Willow Road in Hampstead, was quite controversial when it was proposed and its construction was opposed by many neighbors who did not appreciate the destruction of the cottages that were previously on the site or the building's modern lines. One of those neighbors was James Bond creator Ian Fleming who supposedly named his villain, Auric Goldfinger, after the architect. Villain-or-no, Goldfinger was clearly an innovator whose ideas are well worth appreciating to this day.
1. The bedroom utilizes wall-mounted lamps and hanging shelves which are both excellent ways to preserve floor space.
2. The guest bedroom includes a fold-away bed.
3. Many of the walls were designed as partitions that can open or close off the rooms. The compartments below the landing next to the stairs contain drawers, a brilliant storage solution.
4. The glass wall in the entry hall includes compartments for displaying objects and even includes a compartment for holding the mail.
5. These gorgeous built-in shelves were originally designed for the nursery which was later used as an office.
The home has been preserved by The National Trust which operates tours through the spring, summer and fall. Visit The National Trust website for tour details and more information about the home's design and architecture. Additional images of 2 Willow Road can be seen and purchased at The National Trust Photo Library.
Images: ©NTPL/Dennis Gilbert
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Comments (8)
Rubber flooring in the entry way? I do like the front door and opaque glass with light coming through.
The bedroom in the first pic is a perfect example of how a bookcase or other furniture can overpower the balance and harmony. A super easy cure here if the idea is to stay minimalist would be to use a darker color paint the same width as the bed and carry it all the way up the wall to a) anchor the bed (b) serve the same purpose as a headboard without the expense or heaviness of a headboard (c) draw the eye up the same height as the bookcase and window to achieve balance.
I don't think faux painting a a headboard keeps with the integrity of the space, FengShuiByFishGirl. However I think you are right when you say the room is off balance. By simply painting the entire wall behind the bed a darker color it should take emphasis off the heaviness of the bookshelf.
Give me a break with FengShui. This place was designed in 1939! And it is now a museum, nobody sleep in this bedroom....
it's probably me but i like this style. even the bad feng shit.
it reminds me of the apartments in a clockwork orange.
Architectural design hasn't exactly progressed in a straight line since 1939. However, plenty of designers were in thrall to the idea of clean, spare, machine-like spaces at that time--not that the general public wanted to live in monastic cells. After the East End was bombed, these ideas were put into practice, and sterile council housing became the norm. Still looks like a cell to me. So humorless, unlike the Eames.
I think the bedroom is amazing.