The cosmic house in the lush park of Holland in London is not for the weak. Designed by Charles Jencks, the house is considered one of the most important examples of postmodern architecture and is the house of that style in list I of the first grade I of the United Kingdom. No psychedelic drugs are required for your visit that will convince you that you have traveled to a parallel universe where everything is an explosion of color, shape, white, symbolism and, above all, fun. But be careful: getting that gold ticket to visit the Cosmic House is not a walk in the park, so read more and see how you can get your small curious mind in what could be the most peculiar house in London.
A story of the Cosmic House
Built between 1978 and 1983, The Cosmic House, initially called The Thematic House. It was a collaboration between the American architecture historian, Charles Jencks and the architect Terry Farrell. The innovative duo would continue to create a postmodern masterpiece, along with other collaborators, including Michael Graves, Eduardo Paolozzi, Piers Gough and Allen Jones. Cosmic House opened the public in 2021.
Charles began to design the house while writing his sales success, Postmodern architecture language. I was married to the writer, gardener and designer, Maggie Keswick Jencks. He was co -founded for the incredible beneficial organization of Maggie cancer care (with Charles).
Cosmic House is quite kooky and you can also throw some kitsch there. The design revolves around the creation of the universe, the rotation of the earth, the stations and the elements. But you don’t need to read too much. Simply wander, try to pick up the floor jaw and enjoy light, drama and playful design.
I have never seen a house like it is in London and it is certainly the first of my list to be one of the most unusual historical houses in London. Let’s take a look inside, okay?
See inside the cosmic house
The Vortex solar staircase acts as the central anchor for the spaces of the cosmic house. Inspiration in the tulip staircase is needed at the Queen’s house. It represents the solar year and is also a wink to the double dn structure propeller.
The water dome is, or not, a jacuzzi, designed by Piers Gough. It adapts to up to six people, although Charles’s daughter, Lily remembers how she only used it once. Apparently, entering and leaving was too much task, and the water was constantly cold.
The cosmic oval was the original entrance to the house, above which this elliptical roof is located. Benead is a cosmic (yes, baby!)
The trip through the stations begins with the winter room with its gray and darker tones. The large chimney is Michael Graves.
With another discreet fireplace (also designed by Michael Graves), the spring room simply feels to be sitting. Spiral Lloyd Frank -style lamps apparently fall regularly.
The arcade swallow allows uninterrupted views in the garden. Apparently, the window low on the floor in the movie of a switch, but I could not comment, since I did not see this in action.
No, it is not called a boring kitchen: it is the Indian summer, the final of the series of seasonal rooms.
Indian summer is a kitsch space with a frieze decorated with salad spoons, a ganesh and other called. “If you can’t stand the kitsch, get out of the kitchen,” Charles Jencks once said.
The architecture library also served as a study by Charles. Each of the shelves is designed according to the book style that is contained in it. For example, a pyramidal shelf contains books about ancient Egypt, while a stupid contains books about ancient Rome.
The four -year room where Charles and Maggie Slag definitely have an atmosphere of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
The Bathpool en suite can be seen from the main bedroom above. Does the sea remember you? It was designed by gardener Maggie, who wanted views to the garden from his bathtub.
Charles Jencks referred to the entrance door as his “best selfie.” It is bad to represent the body and wings of an angel and is a wink to the wings used as the background you see in all those selfies. It was the last element that completed in the house.
The exhibition space in Cosmic House has a reflected roof and a green floor from Malachite. As soon as you enter the house, you are already disarmed by the dizzying spaces that surround you. The depressed form in which the works are exhibited here are echoed in the photo room in the image room of the John Soane Museum, one of the most delicious rooms in London if you have the opportunity to visit.
How to get tickets to the Cosmic House
Cosmic House is reopening to the public on April 19. Tickets will be released from Midding of March 20And the house will be open for visitors on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays with visits at 12:30 and 15:00. The time slots are limited to 15 people per visit and will sacrifice 1 hour and 30 minutes in the house. Tickets cost £ 5 per person. To buy tickets, book here.
The Cosmic Cosmic Reabe opens the first public presentation of an annual research topic ‘1980 in Parlax’, launching an exhibition and a new commission of the Raqs Media collective. The exhibition will be in view of Casmic House between April 19 and December 22. For more information about the exhibition, go to the website.
In the spring of 2023, the Foundation will publish online the first part of the Charles archive catalog that contains documents, designs and writings related to the design of the Cosmic House, both for Charles and for its numerous collaborators. It will be freely accessible to the public.
Tours for the Cosmic House
Cosmic House will also restart the monthly tours of the house led by the curator. The first of these tours will be on April 24 and tickets can be purchased from the following link since Monday, March 20. Click here to see the tickets of the Led Curator Tour.
The cosmic house: 19 LANSDOWNE WALK, London W11 3AH. Nearest tube: Holland Park.
