Martin Crowley (b. 1936) designed the house at Harfield Gardens for his own occupation in 1979, and it was built a year later. Echoing the famous words of Le Corbusier, Crowley described it ‘as a machine for living in’.

Crowley studied architecture at what is now Kingston University, where he closely studied the work of the great European Modernists. The house at Harfield Gardens is based on a rational modular system (the three bedrooms and the kitchen are all of a similar size) and originally was intended to have two storeys. Indeed, the house is structurally composed to make this addition a relatively simple one.

Now based in France, Crowley worked extensively throughout his career with the architect Robin Moore Ede. They collaborated on numerous commercial projects including an office block at 100 Piccadilly and the renovation of the Curzon cinema in Mayfair. Later on in his career Crowley also assisted the renowned architect Alan Camp.

When designing the house, Crowley joined forces with the celebrated engineer Sam Price, who later worked on private residences by architects including Adjaye Associates, Caruso St John, Niall McLaughlin, Sarah Wigglesworth and Jeremy Till, Seth Stein and Tony Fretton.

The house has had only four occupants, and was sold by The Modern House previously, in 2006.