Grade II*-listed modernism
Shawms 1930s Margaret Justin Blanco White modernist house in Cambridge
A significant piece of architecture, the Shawms 1930s Margaret Justin Blanco White modernist house in Cambridge is now up for sale.
Significant because this is a grade II*-listed building, one of only two built in the last 100 years in Cambridge with this status.
Shawms was commissioned by a university professor and built over the years 1938 and 1939 to a design by Margaret Justin Blanco White, a Cambridge architect and pioneer of British modernism. This is one of her most recognised and important private homes.
Interestingly, it hasn’t changed hands much since that time either. Just two families have lived here since 1939, the second an architect and lecturer who has been as protective with the house as the first owner.
That doesn’t mean a time capsule is on offer here. Far from it. But with the exception of one significant change, the house has a layout faithful to the original build and with period details scattered about the place as a bonus.
The ‘significant change’ is a conversion of the original garage to a kitchen/breakfast room. The original was a ‘modest’ first-floor galley kitchen, which is still present. But the new space adds in some modern-era practicality. If you are worried about parking the car, a new double garage has also been added.
Changes beyond that seem down to functionality and decoration. The decorative finishes seem fresh and some of the radiators are modern for example, with some of the fixtures and fittings also of a more contemporary nature.
But look closely and you will see original details here too, from the walls of glass, the roof terrace and the staircase through to more subtle details like the dumbwaiter, period doors and built-in storage. Still 1930s modernism, but with modern-era updates to keep this as a modern family home and with its main purpose of offering light and space unchanged.
A decent amount of living space here too. As well as the kitchen/breakfast space I mentioned earlier, the ground floor also has three bedrooms, a bathroom, WC and sitting room.
On the first floor, there are two more bedrooms, a shower room and that wonderful main living space with the original kitchen just off it.
All of the main rooms look south over the gardens through broad sliding windows and at the top of the house is a full roof terrace with a central studio conservatory.
Shawms sits in 1.2 acres, which is made up of lawned gardens that lead through to a wooded area and on to its own private lake. So peace and tranquillity despite being quite close to the city and the university.
If that sounds like your kind of place, you will need to find something in the region of £1,650,000 to pick it up.
Images and details courtesy of Cooke, Curtis and Co. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
