w e l ov eFoundedsome 10 yearsagowith
theintentionofmakingtop-drawer,
conceptualbuildingdesignmore
accessible,LivingArchitectureis
a collectionofeightoutstanding
propertiesdottedacrossthecountry
thatareavailabletobookasholiday
homes.ConceivedbySwiss-born
BritishphilosopherandwriterAlain
deBotton– themanbehindprojects
suchasTheSchoolofLife– the
programmeworkswithinternationally
acclaimedarchitectstocreate
habitablestructuresthatimprovethe
public’sappreciationofcontemporary
construction.Thelatestofthese
dwellingsis PeterZumthor’sSecular
Retreat,a handsome,modernistwork
ofcleanlinesandfloor-to-ceilingglass
thatsitsamongtherollinghillsof
devon’scountryside.dutchpractice
MVRdV’sBalancingBarnis the
portfolio’sbest-knownshowstopper;a
single-storeyhomecladinsteeltiles
thathangsprecariouslyovertheedge
ofa grassybankbytheSuffolkcoast.
otherfavouritesincludeGrayson
Perry’sfantasticallystyledA Housefor
essexandJohnPawson’smonastic
LifeHouseinWales,butallthe
buildingsoffera chancetointeract
meaningfullywithbothchallenging
design and the rich British landscape.needToKnoW
■Pricesforeachpropertyvary– visit
thewebsiteformoredetails.
■Mostofthehomessleepfouror
morepeopleandarerun on a
self-cateringbasis.
■LivingArchitecture,Featureliving-architecture.co.uk.
Patrick Hamilton courtney
PHOtOGraPHS
(liFe HouSe, BalancinG Barn) Jack HoBHouSe
LivingArchitecture: Alain de Botton’s curation
of philosophically designed short-stay homes(Clockwisefromtop)
SecularRetreat;Life
House;BalancingBarn;
A House For Essex.LifestyLe