2 Willow Road facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 2 Willow Road |
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1–3 Willow Road
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| General information | |
| Type | Terraced house |
| Architectural style | Modernist |
| Location | Hampstead London, NW3 England |
| Coordinates | 51°33′25.92″N 0°10′9.01″W / 51.5572000°N 0.1691694°W |
| Completed | 1939 |
| Owner | National Trust |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Ernő Goldfinger |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: 1, 2 and 3, Willow Road | |
| Designated: | 14 May 1974 |
| Reference #: | 1379196 |
2 Willow Road is a special house in Hampstead, London. It's one of three houses built together in a row. A famous architect named Ernő Goldfinger designed them. The houses were finished in 1939.
Since 1995, the National Trust has looked after 2 Willow Road. It is now open for people to visit. This house was one of the first Modernist buildings the National Trust took care of. Ernő Goldfinger lived in this house with his wife Ursula and their children until he passed away in 1987.
Contents
History of the House
Building a Modern Home
The houses at 1, 2, and 3 Willow Road were built using concrete and red bricks. Before they were built, some old cottages had to be taken down. Not everyone in the area was happy about this. Some local people didn't like the idea of these new, modern houses.
One of the people who didn't like the new buildings was a writer named Ian Fleming. He later became famous for creating the James Bond books. Because he was so annoyed with Ernő Goldfinger, Ian Fleming decided to name a bad guy in his books after him: Auric Goldfinger.
Goldfinger's Family Home
Number 2 Willow Road was designed by Goldfinger especially for his own family. It is the biggest of the three houses. Inside, it has a cool spiral staircase in the middle. This staircase was designed by an engineer named Ove Arup.
The house is held up by a strong concrete frame. Some parts of this frame are even on the outside of the building. This design helps make the inside of the house feel very open and spacious. There are not many walls blocking the space.
Visiting Today
Art and Design Inside
Ernő Goldfinger didn't just design the house; he also designed a lot of the furniture inside No. 2. This means the furniture fits perfectly with the house's style.
The house also has a great collection of art from the 20th century. You can see artworks by famous artists like Bridget Riley, Marcel Duchamp, and Henry Moore. It's like a mini art gallery inside a home!
Other Houses on Willow Road
While 2 Willow Road is a museum, the houses at No. 1 and No. 3 Willow Road are still private homes. People live in them just like any other house.
