Must-see houses
WowHaus Top 40 of 2013: The most popular properties of the year (numbers 10 – 1)
Ok, you’ve stuck with us for the rest of the Top 40 most popular house finds on WowHaus (those being 40 – 31, 30 – 21 and 20 – 11). But now we are at the shaper end. This is the Top 10 of the year. Have you guessed what is number one? It might be something of a surprise.
10. Peter Aldington-designed 1960s grade II-listed modernist property in Bessacarr, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire
It’s the dream combination (and pictured above). Affordable modernism, untouched by time. We’re talking this Peter Aldington-designed 1960s grade II-listed modernist property in Bessacarr, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire.
It was designed and built by Aldington in 1967 for a close friend, someone who has looked after this place over the years. It’s a dream for anyone interested in 1960s architecture.
This single-storey gem is on the market for the first time, but has struggled to find the right buyer. At present, it is up for sale for £295,000.
9. Two-bedroom apartment in The Jam Factory, London, SE1
An interesting one. Not a place we would have had down as a Top 10 find, but this factory conversion really struck a chord.
The building was originally a factory for Sir William Hartley’s famous jam-making company in 1902, converted by Ian Simpson Architects into dwelling spaces in 2003. All of those spaces use the original Edwardian features, but adding in some contemporary living space for a mix of the old and new.
£650,000 was the price if you fancied it.
8. 1930s Dyson and Hebeler-designed grade II-listed art deco property in Hilton, near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
If you are looking for patterns in the most popular house list, then original period features in art deco houses is definitely a prominent one. It certainly accounts for the popularity of this Dyson and Hebeler-designed art deco property in Hilton, near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
The house dates back to 1938 and is listed due to its significance to the modern movement. That’s the structure and plenty of the features within (including some stunning rooms and the period staircase).
However, there was work required to bring this place back to its best, which might not be easy on a listed building. But on the plus side, there is a lot of living space here and around 2.5 acres of land too. That probably accounts for the £995,000 asking price.
7. Chevrons 1930s art deco property in Llandudno, Conwy, North Wales
Our favourite art deco find this year, the Chevrons property in Llandudno, Conwy, North Wales is a stunning piece of domestic architecture.
It has been modernised, but with one eye on the original design. Walk in and you could be walking into the 1930s. Until you reach the kitchen and check out the fittings, obviously.
Not cheap for the area, but you can understand why Chevrons is up for sale at £675,000.
6. 1930s Berthold Lubetkin-designed five-bedroom modernist property in London SE18
This one was massively popular at the start of the year and for good reason. This 1930s Berthold Lubetkin-designed five-bedroom modernist property in London SE18 was relatively cheap. Or at least, cheaper than you might imagine.
Another gem of the Modern Movement, this mid-terrace property had been renovated completely, but without losing the character of the original build. Property developers take note.
With five bedrooms and off-street parking, it was expected to be one of the pricier properties on the site. But £399,000 seemed pretty reasonable.
5. 1960s grade II-listed Richard and Su Rogers-designed Rogers House modernist property in London SW19
I’ll be honest, I expected this to be far and away the most popular property of the year, but the 1960s grade II-listed Richard and Su Rogers-designed Rogers House in London SW19 only comes in at number five.
One of the most important British houses of the 20th century, it is (or was) still owned by the Rogers family, mixing a main building with a separate studio and guest space in the garden, all designed as open-plan constructions and as flexible living spaces.
It even has its own colour scheme and gardens designs by Dada Rogers, Richard’s mother, which have been maintained as intended. Location isn’t bad either.
That’s perhaps why the asking price was £3,200,000. A house you really need to see if you have any interest in 20th century architecture.
4. The First Sun House – 1930s Connell and Ward-designed modernist property in Amersham, Buckinghamshire
Sadly, this isn’t the iconic High and Over, but it is one of the other builds by the same architects in that location.
The First Sun House is a 1930s Connell and Ward-designed modernist property in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, still looking every bit the period dream from the outside.
But inside, it looks to have been modernised significantly, although it’s still a tempting and eye-catching property and one with plenty of living space, plus a roof terrace and well-maintained garden.
£900,000 was the price.
3. 1950s A. James Speyer and David Haid-designed ‘Ferris Bueller’ modernist house in Highland Park, Illinois, USA
I think it’s fair to say that this is a lot of people’s idea of a dream house based purely on their childhood. We’re talking the 1950s A. James Speyer and David Haid-designed ‘Ferris Bueller’ modernist house in Highland Park, Illinois, USA.
Yes, this was Cameron’s house in teen classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and has been on and off the market (without the Ferrari) for the last few years.
Sadly, no one has been keen to recreate the movie experience, which is surprising considering the price has dropped continually over the months. It is now on at the equivalent of £809,000.
It’s a stunning piece of modernist architecture though, the work of a Mies Van der Rohe protege and still very faithful to the original design (and the house you saw in the movie), with recent work undertaken on the roof and windows.
Another one you have to see. As far as we know, it’s still up for sale.
2. Four-bedroom 1950s midcentury modern property in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
This house became a ‘hit’ via Facebook, as people really couldn’t believe that this 1950s midcentury modern property in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA actually existed – and at such a low price.
As we said in the original article, it looks like someone has walked out of this place some decades back, locked the door and never came back. I don’t think that’s the case, but when you look at the exterior, the room dividers, the fireplaces, the light fittings, the bar, the kitchen and more, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
All of that in 1.6 acres of land and with a selling price that’s the equivalent of £229,000. Architectural bargains are out there if you look hard enough.
And finally, the most popular house featured on WowHaus in 2013…
1. The Water Tower conversion in Kennington, London, SE1
Until we checked the numbers, we wouldn’t have had this in the top 10, let alone at the number one spot. But The Water Tower conversion in Kennington, London, SE1 was the most viewed property in the last 12 months.
Its popularity was perhaps helped by a TV appearance, with this conversion starring in the Grand Designs show in 2012. It started off as a derelict tower, ending up as the contemporary modernist dream. One that works with the original period features (like the staircase) rather than simply replacing them.
The headline act is all new though, a glass ‘cube’ that holds the open-plan kitchen and living area, a sitting room with projection TV and a 36 sq. metre roof terrace with some amazing views.
£4,750,000 was the asking price for a truly stunning build.
