Spring House

TL45NW 667/20/10109 12-APR-00

CAMBRIDGE CONDUIT HEAD ROAD Spring House

II

Artist's house and studio, with garage. 1965-7 by Colin St John Wilson, assistant M J Long. Pale cavity brick walls, internal columns and partitions of timber, as in cut-away corner terrace and verandah above. Concrete Roman tile monopitched roofs, with open timberwork beneath. L-shaped plan with corner angle cut away to form terrace in angle of garden with projecting bays to kitchen and dining area. Otherwise the plan of the house and garage (to left of entrance elevation) are almost square, with double-height artist's studio in wing projecting forward to enclose entrance forecourt. Dark-stained timber windows, with aluminium opening lights. Dark-stained garage, porch and glazed doors. The elevational treatment to front and side reminiscent of Aalto's Saynatsalo Town Hall, Finland (1950-2), particularly in the treatment of the broad stack. Left elevation, with concealed windows lighting living room and staircase, not visible as on plot line. Large high windows to studio, and fully glazing behind cut-away terrace area to rear. This has timber columns supporting roof, timber stair leading to first-floor verandah with door to internal gallery. Thus indoors and outdoors are related.

The interior is dominated by double-height living area open to roof, with gallery on garden sides. Timber columns on 1.8m grid (with bronzed fixings at top) support the roof and gallery, which forms a corridor leading to bedrooms behind timber balustrade with timber handrail, separated by timber partitions and doors, with window from principal bedroom opening into living area. Timber inner door from entrance, glazed and with glazed partition to side. Corner hearth on diagonal axis to open terrace; built-in seating along entrance wall. Kitchen (remodelled) and dining area under balconies to either side, the kitchen area separated by head-high partitions incorporating cupboards which lead to stair at far end of house.

`The interlocking spaces leading diagonally from the corner fireplace through the double height living room, and the verandah to the garden beyond, and the pleasure in timber building are a delight' (Martin Richardson, Colin St John Wilson, RIBA, 1997, p.23.)

Sources Era, May/June 1971, pp.20-1 Colin St John Wilson, Architect, n.d. c.1972 Colin St John Wilson, RIBA, 1997

Listing NGR: TL4292259520