House With Garage, Raised Terrace And Plant Boxes

Private house built in 1956–7 by Robert Harvey of the architectural practice Yorke, Harper and Harvey, designed for his brother J G Harvey. The house is constructed in brick with a steep tile roof above deep eaves. Water is carried from the roof to the ground by chains rather than conventional downpipes. The windows are thick timber with pivot-hinged doors, and brickwork is exposed internally.

The building is largely single storey with a higher entrance section, arranged in an asymmetrical T-shaped plan around a central stack. The low-slung, compact brick structure positions the living area behind the entrance and carport, which are set behind a thick brick pier with a timber screen between the two elements and a low timber ceiling. A low catslide roof to an adjoining store creates a physical barrier between the entrance and garden facades. The bedroom wing features angled end walls enlivened by elaborate brickwork beneath the eaves.

The living area extends into the roof space with a boarded ceiling incorporating diamond-shaped rooflights and a low timber cornice containing recessed light fittings. An angled section creates a conservatory. The bedroom ceiling is finished in cedar and mahogany with built-in fittings. The kitchen, set to the side of the living area, has built-in cupboards integrated into the eaves space beneath a low boarded ceiling.

A terrace adjoining the living room provides physical and visual connection to the garden. Brick planting boxes enhance the integration between interior and exterior spaces.

Robert Harvey was born in Coventry in 1919 and studied at Birmingham School of Art, which fostered strong interest in Frank Lloyd Wright's work. In 1950 he joined J Brian Cooper's office and was given leave to hear Wright speak at the Architectural Association. He subsequently joined Leonard Harper's practice, whose son Ross Harper was his contemporary. In 1951 this practice amalgamated with that of F W B Yorke, and Harvey took over the Stratford office, specialising in private houses. He designed over fifty houses, primarily in Warwickshire. His work combines sensitive material handling with ingenious manipulation of room heights, floor levels and interior spaces reflecting concern with psychological and emotional aspects of domestic architecture. His houses characteristically mix natural and man-made materials with modern mechanical systems, yet retain a robust, homespun quality. This house represents arguably Harvey's first mature work, distinguished by large eaves without downpipes and the integration of the garage within the house framework. It is a distinguished representative of modern design. The neighbouring house, also by Harper, has been altered.