Ferrum House With Garage, Terrace And Pool

Ferrum House is a private residence built in 1963, designed by John S Bonnington for himself. The main rectangular section features a steel-framed upper storey supported by light yellow brick cross walls that extend into the garden, topped with a flat roof. The building has a largely rectangular shape and an open plan layout, influenced by the work of Mies van der Rohe. The entrance is located beneath an overhanging upper storey, which has a columbian pine boarded soffit. The windows are made of aluminium and double-glazed, reaching full storey height, while the first floor is partly infilled with vertical cedar boarding. The garden front showcases three bays of tripartite glazing, and the attached garage is part of the overall design.

Inside, the house features Swedish white glass mosaic floors throughout, hardwood sliding doors, and internal partitions. An open staircase with timber treads and a steel string and handrail connects the hall to the dining area, which leads to the kitchen and living room. The ceilings are boarded with Sitka spruce, and there are fitted storage cupboards and wardrobes in the bedrooms and ground floor passages. The kitchen includes a teak wall-to-wall countertop and sink unit that is clear of the floor and windows, with white laminated cupboards below. The living room has a hi-fi recess with built-in speakers in the panelling. Surrounding the house is a Portland stone paved terrace that extends to the garden pool.

Ferrum House is noted as one of the first examples of a steel-framed house in England and is recognized for its fine and disciplined design, featuring a rigorous open plan that remains in immaculate condition.