WHAT WE'RE SEEING: The Red House open to public

The Red House
Until 19 December 2pm – 5pm (Tue – Fri)
Fri 22 – Sun 24 November 10am – 5pm
Admission free

The Red House in Aldeburgh, the home which composer Benjamin Britten shared with Peter Pears until his death in 1976, is being opened to the public.

Before moving to The Red House in 1957, Britten asked British architect H.T. Cadbury-Brown to consider options for a purpose-built studio in the grounds. Cadbury-Brown instead converted a former hayloft next to the main house, which was completed in 1958.

Cadbury-Brown was educated at the Architecture Association. He was influenced by the architecture of Le Corbusier, among others, and went on to work for Ernö Goldfinger before setting us his own practice. He is known for his involvement with the Modern Architecture Research Group (MARS) and his design input into the Royal College of Art.

A new building for the Benjamin Britten archive, by Stirling Prize-winning architects Stanton Williams, opened in the grounds of The Red House in June 2013. The low-energy red brick building is designed to complement the original house and gardens.

Britten’s composing studio has been recreated, based on Cadbury-Brown’s original project file, and presented as it was in 1958.

For more information please visit www.brittenpears.org.

Related stories