Why did Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus, build a weather-boarded house in Kent?
As the founder of Bauhaus and a leading pioneer of modernist architecture, Walter Gropius is known for building many things. His extensive contribution to the modernist movement, for example, includes Dessau Bauhaus and Fagus Factory, which epitomise what he’s arguably best known for: sizeable, functional buildings, such as schools, apartment blocks and hospitals – the majority of which are based in his native Germany and subsequently the US. It’s curious then, that along with Maxwell Fry, a significant name in the British modern movement, he built this weather-boarded house in the serene, countryside village of Shipbourne in Kent.
Between his time in Germany and the US, Gropius had a spell living in Britain from 1934 until 1937 – he emigrated here with the help of Fry to avoid the Nazi regime of his homeland. Thankfully, before he left, he contributed a number of beautifully designed, clean-lined buildings, including this exceptional home in question, which he built in his last year. It is now known as the only weather-boarded house in the country by the architect. So, we’re rather excited that it’s listed with us for sale.
The clients of the project were Jack and Frances Donaldson. Jack, who later became a Labour politician and OBE, and Frances had quite the circle of friends: in 1935, they were offered the chance to build a house on the estate of the infamous family of socialites, the Cazalets. Of course, they snapped it up. It’s likely such clients would have had the pick of the bunch of architects at the time – and they hand-picked Gropius and Fry.
There’s a third architect who could have this exquisite Grade II*-listed home on his CV: Walter Segal. A fellow German émigré, the young Segal was revered for his experience in timber building – a skill which came naturally in handy when Gropius was designing and building this home. The exceptional use of timber is, after all, the thing that first strikes you about the pleasing exterior. Oh, and does it remind you of anything? Architecture buffs may draw the resemblance to the Gropius-designed Sommerfield House in Berlin, which has a similar honest natural palette.
Now, let’s step inside: the brilliant cobalt blue door that greets you neatly ties in pleasing blue accents throughout the home. We’re a sucker for a good reading spot, and this home has a library space complete with a log burner. Our favourite space in the house? Quite possibly – but it’s contending with the nearby kitchen that has a wall of floor-to-ceiling glazing that looks out to lashings of lush greenery.
We’ve been so caught up with the design and architecture that we haven’t even mentioned said outdoor space. Gardens, mature trees, and orchards of apple, pear, damson and the sort cocoon the whole house, creating a peaceful environment so picturesque, it wouldn’t look out of place on a pretty postcard. Wish you were here? We most certainly do.
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