1960s Jack Coutu modernist house in Wrecclesham, Surrey
Part renovation project, part time capsule, this 1960s Jack Coutu modernist house in Wrecclesham, Surrey is just up for sale.
It’s also an interesting piece of architecture too. The house was designed by Jack Couto, who wasn’t an architect by trade. He was an artist and a noted one too, exhibited at the Royal Academy in London and found in the permanent collection at the V&A.
If you want to know more about the artist, there is plenty online about him. But I suspect you want to know more about the house, which has just hit the market.
The house dates from the mid-1960s, designed for the artist and his sister, both of whom lived here until their recent deaths. I suspect they liked what they produced, as this house hasn’t changed in over 50 years.
Actually, it hasn’t changed at all. I can’t see anything that looks out of place from the 1960s. The architecture of course, which is at the midcentury end of the modernist spectrum. But not just that.
A look at the internal imagery shows so much of interest to fans of the era. I honestly don’t know where to start with it.
So let’s start at the reception, with angled wood ceilings, originals fireplace and built-in units, the workspace with original storage, the time capsule kitchen, the staircase, more of those built-ins in the hallways and the original wood flooring. That’s just the tip of the iceberg with this gem.
Of course, this one needs work. There is no getting away from that despite all the originality. But there is a lot to preserve here if you do upgrade and a great basis for creating a 1960s family home with midcentury character. Houses with this kind of original detail don’t come up often.
In terms of the living space, that start with an entrance hall, which in turn leads to one of the stars of the show, a 25ft triple-aspect sitting room with vaulted ceiling, the original fireplace, sliding patio doors to the rear garden and an internal sliding door to the family room.
The family room has built-in cupboards and drawers, as well as stairs to the first floor. Before you head up the stairs, check out the study with open-tread staircase to the first floor and the original fitted kitchen with access to the pantry/cupboard area.
The house also has two bedrooms with built-in wardrobes, a family bathroom (again original to the 1960s build), a cloakroom with WC and a triple-aspect third bedroom or studio.
A good amount of outside space too. To the front, the property is a tarmacadam driveway with ‘ample’ parking, a pathway to front door and gated side access. You also have a garage and a south facing rear garden with shed, which looks quite substantial in the photos.
Wrecclesham is a short distance from Farnham town centre, which is less than an hour from Waterloo. If all of that appeals, £550,000 is the asking price.
Images and details courtesy of Andrew Lodge. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
