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“Granelli House is among the vanguard of house designs at the time in Britain” - English Heritage
Set within three quarters of an acre of landscaped private gardens, this beautifully original, four-bedroom, mid-century house was designed between 1955 and 1958 by architects Remo and Mary Granelli. Granelli House was completed in 1961, with the addition of a garage in 1963, and was granted a Grade-II listing by Historic England in 2007, acknowledging the design as, “among the vanguard of house designs at the time in Britain.” Lived in by the Granelli family until last year, this is the first time that the house has come on to the market.
Granelli House
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History
Inspired by the work of Modernist masters Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe, Remo and Mary Granelli began work on the design for their own family home in 1955.
The couple were both trained architects and had been working in Birmingham for some time when the idea to purchase a plot of land near Alvechurch came to fruition. The plot, bordering National Trust greenfield sites on three sides, is excellently positioned at the end of a quiet lane near Hopwood. The Granellis chose this site as they wanted their house to act as a starter home, envisioning a space that could be developed and extended as their family grew.
The T-shaped plan may have been influenced by Remo's work in liturgical architecture around Bimingham with Rush, Granelli and Partners. A number of these religious buildings remain in use to this day and include Our Lady Wayside in Shirley and Kingshurt's St Anthony Catholic church.
Construction on Granelli House started in 1960 and was complete by October 1961. The Granellis used local Birmingham manufacturers who were known to them for the fittings. Remo Granelli's father, Antonio, manufactured the terrazzo and his knowledge shaped features such as the heated flooring, stair treads and mantel shelf. These choices were carried out with the intention of combining the family's Italian heritage with Modernist architectural practice and the characteristics of their local environment.
The house's multiple pergolas and courtyards are designed to break down the boundaries between outside and in. They were intended for use as extra rooms or extensions to the interior, affording space for afternoon teas, al fresco breakfasts and evening drinks.
In 2007, Granelli House was awarded a Grade II listing by English Heritage acknowledging a "carefully considered design process... the Italian origins of the architect, Remo Granelli, are strongly felt in the choice of materials and the building is a good example of the interior design of its day."
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