Ernő Goldfinger

my view of Trellick Tower from Feb 2010

Ernö Goldfinger

so, most people who know me, know that i am slightly obsessed with Ernő Goldfinger 's brutalist beauty Trellick Tower.  this 31 story high rise block of flats, built in the '70s, is seen by some as one of London's much loved landmarks and by others as a concrete eyesore - but for me its definitely the former. when coming home from a trip out of town its the sight of this crazy boxy building that lets me know i'm nearly home and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, especially when backed by a glorious golden London sunset.  i couldn't imagine living anywhere that i can't see Trellick in the distance and dream of having an even closer view one day.

2 Willow Road (all photos courtesy of National Trust)

i have been meaning to visit the home of the Goldfingers' at 2 Willow Road in Hampstead for quite some time now so was glad to finally make the trip this weekend.  thanks to the National Trust this beautiful modernist home, designed by Ernö Goldfinger for his family in 1939, has now been preserved as a listed building and its open to the public (between March and October).  i highly recommend going along to enjoy both the forward thinking architecture and beautifully functional interiors, as well as the impressive modern art collection (including pieces by Bridget Riley, Max Ernst, Man Ray and more).

view of the dining room and some of the wonderful art...

originally Ursula's studio (with stage)

the stage, folding doors to reveal the living room....

...how the living room would have looked with all the windows open...heaven

the use of colour, materials and flexible spaces was all truly inspirational - it may not be the cosiest of family homes but i could move in here in a heartbeat as i fell in love with all the built in storage and folding walls - to say nothing of the glass, glass, glass everywhere - so that the rooms are bright, warm and afford amazing views of Hampstead Heath (tho admittedly the view is considerably reduced compared with when the Goldfingers lived here).  the tour guide we had (Martin) was fab - very informative about the house design, the art and giving us the odd tidbit about the Goldfingers' social life and artist friends - how Ursula catered dinner parties in the tiny kitchen i don't know, but being the Cross & Blackwell heiress, it was a nice touch to leave a tin of C&B soup out.  also loved the children's room (it could be partitioned into 3 rooms for the 2 children and the nanny) which contained a small doll's house that Ernö made his daughter - but, it being a modernist version, she apparantly wasn't too thrilled about with the result - i'm sure she had something more traditionally pretty in mind!

Goldfinger Two by Peter Wylie

i fell in love with this painting of Balfron Tower (precurser to Trellick) by  Peter Wylie which is now permanently on display in the spare bedroom, tho naturally i would prefer to own one of the Trellick paintings...i love 5 & 6!

Goldfinger Seven

Goldfinger Three

Goldfinger Six

Goldfinger Five

NOSTALGICart

a snippet of one of Rick Warden's pieces on display at the Tricycle - i spy JOHNNY ALUCARD (in the bath!) from Dracula AD 1972 - a personal favourite!

i was over at the Tricycle in Kilburn the other night to catch a film and was intrigued by current exhibition NOSTALGICart & DigiPics by  Rick Warden (memorable as demon Astaruth in the BBC's cheery exorcism tv drama series 'Apparitions' - tho he's done a lot more!).  the NOSTALGICart part of the exhibition came from memories of his childhood top trump card obsession -  begun anew as he has now managed to search out and complete the sets he coveted in the school playground - absolutely LOVE the Dracula piece (sadly not for sale as its obviously his personal favourite).

my brother would so love this one made from the horror top trumps cards

in 'Apparitions' Father Jacob (Martin Shaw) sends demon Astaruth (Rick Warden) packing - despite the extreme blood loss and levitation he still doesn't rate high enough for his own top trump horror card.....

the DigiPics he created by using an app on his iphone, then made digital prints and has also done a couple of oils - despite my initial reservations the vibrant colours grew on me and i actually fell in love with this one...probably cos that looks suspiciously like Trellick Tower there...anything with a bit of Trellick gets full marks in my book.  check out Rick's exhibition before it goes - on till saturday 14th May 2011.

i spy...Trellick Tower...?

sunday spotting

the pub is...deceased...it is no more....the flats will have a great view of Trellick tho..

location for Withnail & I pub scene...

"two large gins, two pints of cider. ice in the cider"

it's been scorching hot weather here in London over the last few days - amazing for a bank holiday, and even more amazing for April. i spent most of it in the garden soaking up the rays but did pop out for a little bike ride down to Portobello for brunch on sunday with a pal at the wonderful tabernacle in Powis Square (delicious eggs royale at a very reasonable price).  on the way home we strolled back behind Westbourne Park and right past the big hole where the famous Tavistock/Babushka's pub used to stand.  very sad to see it has been pulled down (for more posh flats) as this little tavern was not only the location for the 'Mother Black Cap' scene in 1987 classic Withnail & I - but also the scene of a significant "hook-up" of my own!  that relationship didn't last either - but it was a memorable meeting and this was a memorable boozer for many a rockin' night.  ahhh..good times...anyway - cycled back home along the canal, red-faced and burnt to a crisp and then spotted a mattress soaking up the rays in mattressland.

soaking up the sun on Station Road, NW10

toile du jouy

 

i purchased some beautiful Provence bedspreads on my recent trip to France and have just managed to collect them from my parents' who kindly transported them over for me in their car.  every time i've visited the area i have wanted one as they are often on display in the local markets but are not cheap (tho still cheaper than buying them in the UK, admittedly).  this time i decided to bite the bullet and bought a traditional and rare black toile pattern which looks fabulous on my bed and a more modern flowered one for snuggling in front of the telly.

Toile du Jouey is a pattern which incorporates a plain white or off-white background with a complex pastoral scene or arrangement of flowers.  Toile is normally found on fabric used for bedspreads and curtains and also on wallpaper. there is a current fashion, in this country at least, to create toile with a contemporary pastoral scene - i spotted this wonderful wallpaper design by the wren design via bloesem.

i've also always been rather fond of timorous beasties urban toiles (London and Edinburgh).  a modern version of toile wallpaper was even designed for the walls of the Big Brother house this year (with Davina interviewing in the contemporary urban pattern) but am not sure who designed it as Timorous Beasties have said that it was NOT one of theirs, as everyone seemed to think.  i definitely want to get my hands on a little of the Timorous Beasties London pattern (below)...it even has a little Trellick Tower on it!!!

gee gee over trellick...

via here

trellick skirt

another great Trellick Tower item...from clothkits and spotted here

mini-me for bees

an ecological centre in Lambeth has built a scale model of Trellick Tower to house their bees.  check it out at: Roots & Shoots, Walnut Tree Walk, London SE11 6DN - spotted via londonist

along the grand union canal...

i took a leisurely stroll along the Grand Union Canal today...from Willesden Junction to Westbourne Park...it was pretty cold, and grey...but lovely...and i spotted several birds, cyclists, boats,2 men carrying a mattress (but sadly they were too far away to capture on the camera) and in the distance the wonderful Trellick Tower....

fair warning! (Railway Cottages, NW10)

 

Willesden Junction - Grand Union Canal - Trellick Tower

feed me!

its grim...and stripey up north west ten

 

 

oi, you following me!

  

 

don't mention the war...someone left their U-boat behind!

 

all the ducks (& geese) are swimmmmming in the waaaater...

us pigeons, however, will remain on dry land

Kensal Green Library

old school canalside housing...beautiful

 

local wildlife

 

off the canal...past the Cobden Club and round the corner...

 

the brutalist majesty of Trellick Tower...thankyouverymuch Ernő Goldfinger