On the fringe of Hampstead Heath, 2 Willow Road is an archetype of modernist architecture, built and previously lived in by one of the godfathers of modernism: Ernő Goldfinger.
The Hungarian-born architect is renowned – and sometimes reviled – for his Brutalist residential tower blocks found across London. Trellick Tower in Kensal Town and Balfron Tower in Poplar are two especially striking examples, both Grade II listed buildings which have found admirers during the latter part of the 20th Century.
2 Willow Road was no less controversial, even while proving that Goldfinger could never be accused of building homes in which he would not want to live. The demolition of the Hampstead cottages that took place to make way for 1-3 Willow Road (the development consists of 3 terraced houses) was strongly opposed by author Ian Fleming, who retaliated by using the architect’s name for both the villain and title of his seventh James Bond novel.
The objection is, on some level, understandable. The squat, rectangular building is not conventionally attractive, looking to all intents and purposes more like gloomy school annex than an inviting home. Yet step indoors, and the house is an elegantly beguiling masterclass in modernist design.
Paramount to modernism is an emphasis on natural materials, and honesty in using them – i.e. if you use wood it should look like wood, metal should look like metal, and so on. Anyone stepping inside 2 Willow Road is instantly enveloped by a variety of warm wood tones on all sides.
Within the simple, geometric shapes of the rooms and furniture is a sense of sublimely ordered chaos. The rooms are variously divided by raised levels and removable walls, allowing for the reconfiguration of interior spaces as and when required. The walls are festooned with art and architectural paraphernalia, creating an enticing busyness in rooms that might otherwise end up feeling a little too regulated.
The hallways offer a contrast with the rooms they connect, eschewing busy objects, patterns and textures in favour of a sparse minimalism broken up with clean, elegant lines.
The spiral staircase that connects the three floors of 2 Willow Road is a beautiful design from whichever angle it’s viewed. The metal handrail plunges downwards in a graceful nosedive, superficially connected to the floor by a crisscross of ropes where one might otherwise expect to find balusters. The chequered wood that forms the treads of the stairs creates a rich, intricate pattern as you descend.
Goldfinger was a furniture designer as well as an architect, and his home was filled with details and objects that he had designed himself. This gold on this subtly ornate light fitting offsets the salmon pink wall of the dining room.
This Goldfinger-designed chair again returns to the honesty of natural materials, with the gentle curves of the lounger balancing out the harsh angles present in much of the rest of the living area.
A timeless architectural example of modernist living, you can visit 2 Willow Road yourself by booking via the National Trust.
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