A house constructed of hexagonal units; not something you see often, but the signature of architect Noel Moffett (1912-1994). In fact, Ashington House was meant to be constructed entirely of stacked hexagonal units, but the Greater London Council rejected the original plans. Unperturbed, Moffett simply produced an asymmetrical design that combined more conventional quadrangles at varying floor levels with a flourish of concrete flying buttresses and staggered covered staircases. He managed to include two single-storey detached houses in the plan.
Inspired by The Giant’s Causeway, German expressionism, and Neuman, Hecker and Sharon’s Dubiner Apartment House (which is based on 100 square-foot hexagons), these houses are considered part of one of London’s forgotten Brutalist masterpieces.
Rees was responsible for creating an extension on the ground floor and to add a third hexagon to the second storey. The site is quite exposed, yet, a cluster of ash trees provide screening from the main building and the courtyard feels surprisingly secluded with strategically planted small trees and bamboo. The challenge was to maintain this privacy and tranquility but also to create something modern and architecturally eye-catching, a point of interest for the curious passerby that didn’t feel out of place.
Our goal for the design was to complement the surroundings of the building and not be too outlandish, but at the same time enhance both the building and the neighbourhood. For the extension, we used copper cladding as it can be more economical than a brick and block construction, and the raw copper has a deep umber hue (to begin with) which would keep it within the context of the estate’s dark brown brickwork.
Moving inside the home, the unique angles of the hexagonal structure make up each room. From the hallways both upstairs and downstairs, you can catch glimpses of all the different rooms and corners of this unusual abode. The thoughtful decor and paint colours give the impression of a jewelled and vitreous kaleidoscope, every single view composition of interesting angles and perspectives.
