Number 21 August 1992
GAKBRIDOE ARGHITECTURE
A review of current Architectural and Environmental Issues and events in the Cambridge area produced by theCambridge Association ofArchitects. The views in this newsletter are those of the individual contributors and not of the Association. Newsletter co-edited by David Raven and Colen Lumley. ’Cambridge Architecture Trumpington Mews, Trumpington, Cambridge. CB2 2LS
‘°IME CONTEMPORARY HOUSE” 80members ofthepublic enjoyeda unique opportunity on Sunday 28 June to visit5 contemporary houses in Cambridge, one from the 1960s and four completed in the last two years. The tours, (part of the World Day ofArchitecture Events) organised by the Cambridge Association of Architects and Cambridge Heritage, and sponsored by Eastern Electricity, were sopopular that tickets sold out very quickly. One man wanted tocome over specially from Hong Kong, butunfortunately is too late to geta place! i‹ was particularly interesting to start with two houses designed by architects for themselves, and then to havea 1960s house explained by the very satisfied client, before meeting both the architects and the clients of the last two houses. Reactions from those on the tour included “the most civilised morning I've spent in ages” and “please can we have more?” PeopleI talked to were clearly very interested in seeing energy conservation pervading a whole design in both Dean Hawkes' and William Fawcett and Diane Haigh's houses. These also introduced subtleties of using space and light which may be second nature to architects but are rare experiences forpeople living in speculative housing. For me the highlight was Eric Sorenses's “Keelson”, still cool crisp and clear after 30 years, with its marvellous use of space, structure and light, and a very satisfied client whose only complaint in all this time has been theheight of the kitchen units. Its description in “Cambridge New Architecture” back in 1970 as“one of thetwo or , e best modern buildings in Cambridge” still Yes! Some tour members must have been wondering what they had let themselves in foras we approached thefirst house through the architectural desert of Perne Avenue, butthesites became more prominent as we moved clockwise through
southern Cambridge. Ivor Richards' courtyard house inLatham Road introduced the idea of the individual house aspart ofa sequence of evolving ideas, and a specifically “Cambridge” use ofbrick which also referred to the 1930’s house on therear part of the site.A common theme throughout all5 houses was thedesign of external space as “outside rooms” to make thebest possible use of limited sites; John Cole's house on Wordsworth Grove was the most densely developed of all. Its large courtyard and entertaining spaces made it an ideal venue fortheconcluding talk and refreshments, it was also interesting asa conscious attempt to relate to its context of substantial brick and tiled houses (some people on the coach had been muttering about being very impressed with theindividual buildings but worried about thelack of relationships with their surroundings). We were very lucky that the5 houses provided sucha stimulating comparison of different approaches to design, energy saving, and the use of space and light. It would be lovely to repeat this tour, but sadly the logistics of organising access to5 private houses, with around 10 architect guides (and such minor practical problems asbackinga coach along the length of Latham Road!) mean that it has to be a “one-off’. We are very grateful to the owners and thearchitects for making thetour possible; the challenge now is how to build on the obvious potential and get the message of architecture over to that willing but waiting public whichjust needs tohave its eyes opened! One final thought: an engineer friend (female) pointed out that only one of the five houses hada window over thekitchen st.. andthat was the only house inwhicha woman architect played an equal part of the design! A few stereotypes still needing tobe overcome. John Preston
'Outside Rooms '. Wordsworth Grove. Bland, Brown& Cole
TO LET Delightful but surplus work space Suitable for architects, engineers, surveyors, planners, landscapers, graphic designers. Ifyou would lilce to be working ina barn, ina garden, on the edge ofthe fields 10 minutes from the City Centre,1 minute from the A45 contact us, now. Share libary, conference room, equipment. Stephen Brown, Cambridge Architects Partnership. (0223) 85-3686