Contemporary architecture inspiration
James – of modern contemporary architects James Wells Architects – went to stay in the Life House with some friends in October 2024. Life House is one of a collection of seven houses located around the UK commissioned by Living Architecture, an initiative launched by philosopher Alain de Botton with the intention of introducing high quality modern design to wider (predominantly British) public. The houses are commissioned from highly regarded contemporary architects UK and Europe, and are available on a short-let basis so that visitors can sample the perhaps unique experience of living in, and with high modern conceptual designs for contemporary living.
Life House, completed in 2016, is located in rural mid Wales. The title ‘Life House’ is open to interpretation; the house offers a range of contemplative opportunities, including reading, listening to music, relaxing, appreciating the work of modern contemporary architects and enjoying being outside in nature.
Architect John Pawson comments: “I wanted to make a house that was deeply comfortable to be in…”
The setting is as rural as the UK offers; open largely unspoilt, fairly hilly countryside, mostly in low level agricultural use mainly for sheep grazing. There are signs of human interaction, though few; a farmstead here, a hedge there but mostly primaeval landscape.
Life House occupies an elevated position from which distant views extend in all directions, while the immediate surroundings are still fairly natural, while grass surround the immediate perimeter of the house it is graded and uneven with low density naturalistic tree planting all around.
Approaching Life House the first impression is of utter simplicity. The material palette is radically simple – variegated black handmade brick, shallow pitched zinc roofing and dark metal framed windows with generous glazing unify a collection of perpendicularly arranged pavilions in a roughly L-shaped composition. The entrance is subtly indicated, all is very understated, even gnomic.
On entering the material palette is reversed – almost. The handmade brick continues but inside is variegated white, the floor is white resin, ceilings are lined in douglas fir boards, the profile following the external pitch, though with a substantial build up in between to accommodate lighting and MVHR installation. All is light and luminous. It soon becomes apparent that the scheme is a carefully considered interior design with a radically understated exterior with almost no emphasis. The external design approach is wholly appropriate in the landscaped setting as the house virtually blends into the natural setting without gesturing.
The driving design concept is simple to state – an L – shaped circulation route entered from the South East from which three ensuite bedroom pavilions spur; the main Living / dining / kitchen space sitting on the external corner of the ‘L’, offering stunning double aspect with long distance views to South and West, and ending with a toplit meditation room half sunk into the rising land to the North of the site.
The benefits of contemporary architecture
On a secondary level the main living space works brilliantly; it is perfectly proportioned for the number of guests expected (six) and is a combination of spaces and functions that we are regularly asked to deliver. But for a reason – it works perfectly and it is how we wish to live now. A similar living room space layout can be seen in JWA’s Pagham Beach House, for instance. Cooking eating socialising and playing in the same space is the ideal and the challenge is to balance the necessary space, lighting, acoustic and functional facilities to make this work. Not an easy task!
Two of the three bedroom suites are lifted 3 steps off the circulation route, giving a sectional play which works beautifully. The bedrooms all have their own ‘theme’ – one is dedicated to music, with an iconic valve stereo system and curated collection of CDs (refreshingly retro); another is dedicated to reading and writing with a provocative, curated collection of rebound books and a work table; the third has a bath with a west facing view which you would go a long way to beat. Ensuite bathrooms are a study in monastic calm and simplicity, but with all necessary conveniences.
Ceilings pitch consistently across the East West axis which gives an elegance to the engagement with each of the pavilions branching off the circulation. This also allows a consistent concealed detail which recurs through the scheme and ties it all together.
But as you explore the interior it reveals a level of quality of thought that is rare to find anywhere. I often advise clients that the element that they chose on which to economise will be the ‘high point’ of the finished design; e.g. the Villa Rotunda fitted with PVC gutters – seen for the first time – will not be a beautiful Palladio villa with PVC gutters, it will be the building with cheap gutters that could have been something.
Perfect detailing makes this rural new build extra special
But in Life House the interior detailing and craftsmanship is of the very highest standard. All junctions have been intensely and comprehensively considered in 3D. Door joinery blends seamlessly into the walls (not an easy feat with the door profiles detailed here but brilliantly achieved). The brick continues into showers where it is glazed to deal with humidity.
The lighting design is exemplary throughout, which is rare to see – there is often good lighting design but with a few faults which stand out. Here the quality of thought in lighting design is inspiring. The only criticism I could find would be the difficulty of finding good task lighting in the main living space, but maybe this is carping – the house is designed for relaxation and contemplation after all and there are opportunities elsewhere in the house to focus on tasks if needed.
Finally, the selection of loose furniture and fittings is superb, a tour though the greats of mid-century design; amongst others, Alvar Aalto lights, Hans Wegner chairs (I was unfamiliar with this particular design but it is exceptional), the selection of tableware was faultless.
On leaving, some thoughts – amazing views of the sky and land, changing light in beautifully proportioned rooms, the blaze of a log fire in the quirky Dick van Hoff tile stove log burner, fantastic revelations from the curated book collection (so much more approachable when whittled down to c.40 primary texts!), comfort and a sense of belonging.
Click here to book your own stay at the Life House. Tell them we sent you!
