Grade II-listed
1950s modernism: Alison & Peter Smithson-designed The Sugden House in Watford, Hertfordshire
Now this is special. The Alison & Peter Smithson-designed The Sugden House in Watford, Hertfordshire is on the market for the very first time.
The house dates back to 1955 and has grade II-listed status, which is down to both the status of the architects and the fact that thus is ‘ a very rare example’ of a completed domestic commission. The fact that it hasn’t been offered for sale before only adds to the appeal.
The house was designed for Derek and Jean Sugden, following the brief that it should be ‘a simple house, an ordinary house, but that this should not exclude it from being a radical house’. The end result pretty much follows that to the letter.
The property is also in remarkably original condition too, which is hardly surprising when you consider it is still in the family’s hands. Yes, you can spot updated details here and there, but the free flowing reception space and angular upper floor areas are still very much as they were.
The finishes too, you suspect, haven’t departed too much from the original ones either. In fact, the agent mentions the original open timber staircase designed by Alison Smithson, as well as the brick fireplace and inset concrete shelving. Even the kitchen units (again designed by Alison Smithson) are also still in place, as well as the inbuilt cupboards in the bedroom.
Plenty of space too, both inside and outside. In terms of the inside, there is a ground floor made up of an open plan living room / kitchen / dining room, all of which is light and bright thanks to the extensive glazing on this floor. There’s also a study / bedroom that overlooks the garden, with a walk-in larder, a walk-in coat cupboard and a drying room completing this floor.
Well, almost. There is as an integral garage and garden room at ground level too.
Head up that wonderful staircase and you will find four bedrooms, a WC and small family bathroom. As we said, the master bedroom has those Alison Smithson-designed cupboard still in place.
Outside is grounds covering something like half an acre, the house sitting in an elevated position surrounded on three sides by a paved terrace and overlooking the lawn, mature shrubs and trees. A finishes things off.
More on the house in the ‘history’ section of the agent’s site and more images too. If this is your dream house, it is on the market for £1,200,000.
Images and details courtesy of The Modern House. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
