1960s Anthony Mackay modern house in High Kingsdown, Bristol
I have featured one of these before, but not as impressive as this 1960s Anthony Mackay modern house in High Kingsdown, Bristol.
To be fair, the one I featured back in 2021 wasn’t hugely different in an architectural sense. It’s all about the finish.
The last one was something of a project and, in that respect, appealed to one section of the buying public. That’s not the case here, The work has been done, creating an interior that’s both modern and retro. But above all, eye-catching.
It isn’t a one-off design, far from it. High Kingsdown is a wider development that emerged from a change of planning policy, with a shift away from the 1960s high rise and to low and medium-rise developments. Nothing notable there. But the design is.
This particular development was inspired by the schemes developed by Jorn Utzon in Denmark in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Specifically the Kingo Houses in Helsingor and the Fredensborg Houses. And that design inspiration has resulted in these houses ageing better than many built from the late 1960s into the early 1970s. Modern design that still works in the modern era.
You can see that at a glance from the exterior shots. This isn’t your average 1960s/1970s build. But it’s also a design that lends itself well to contemporary, open-plan living, especially if you have a flare for design.
As the current owner obviously has. Updated over the last eight years, but without taking too much of the past away. In fact, highlighting some of the original details, like the staircase, which is resplendent in orange (or possibly salmon pink; it’s hard to be sure without a close look). Elsewhere, it’s more of the same. A fairly neutral canvas that’s brought to life with splashes of colour. Modern, but with a knowing nod to the 1960s.
The house is accessed via a part-glazed main front door that leads into an entrance hallway with a storage cupboard and engineered oak flooring. There’s also access to a downstairs WC from here.
But the main flow is into the feature space of this one, which is the open-plan living/dining room. It is a light-filled area with two sets of double-glazed sliding doors overlooking the rear garden, plus more of that oak flooring. It’s also semi-open (is that a phrase?) to the modern kitchen area.
The kitchen is everything you would expect. Modern, plenty of storage, integrated appliances, and the bonus of a window overlooking the garden.
It’s a complete contrast to the 1960s staircase, which has had a new lease of life with that coating of colour. Head up it and you’ll find the first-floor bedrooms.
The landing (with a loft hatch) leads to three bedrooms, all of which look a good size from the imagery. But make up your own mind if or when you view it.
The first is a double bedroom with built-in wardrobes, the second is a similar size and again with built-in storage. The third has storage, too, although that looks like a smaller space. Beyond those rooms is a modern shower room.
As for the outside, the rear garden is mainly laid out as a patio, with a wooden shed, greenhouse, and water tap. Brick wall boundaries fully enclose it. That’s not quite all; the house also has a garage in a separate block.
Fancy it? The house is now on the market with a guide price of £595,000.
Images and details courtesy of Richard Harding. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
