This remarkable house was inspired by the simplicity of Mies van der Rohe‘s BarcelonaPavilion, itself a forerunner of a whole generation of lightweight steel and glass houses.

The raised position offers up wonderful views of the Sussex countryside, while the red brick garden walls provide a rich contrast to the lawns, pools and vegetation. It was designed by the engineer Alan Murray, working with the celebrated architect Michael Manser.

Manser’s practice imported the spirit of American modernism into the UK, creating sleek steel-framed structures that were often juxtaposed with vernacular buildings and verdant, traditional landscapes.

Our From the Archive series takes excerpts and images from ‘The Modern House’ by Jonathan Bell, Matt Gibberd and Albert Hill – a publication written and produced to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Produced in 2015, this book offers our own distinctive snapshot of what it means to live in a modern way in Britain.