One of the most outstanding examples of modern architecture in Cambridge, this four-bedroom house was designed by the celebrated architect Syd Furness and can be found in a secluded location close to one of the city’s most sought-after roads. Furness designed this wonderful, light-filled house for the occupation of himself and his family in 1979, having been lucky enough to find a plot that was quiet and private, only reachable by a picturesque footpath some 200 feet in length, yet just off the popular Hills Avenue.

Given the lack of easy access by vehicles, the house was constructed using a simple timber-frame method. As the acclaimed architectural historian Sir Nikolaus Pevsner pointed out when writing about the work of Furness, the architect was clearly informed by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, as the construction also gracefully shows. Glass is used extensively throughout the house, within the roof structure and external walls. The result is an exceptionally bright interior that frames its verdant settings from within by offering a series of wonderful views to the mature private garden.

The internal layout of the house is formally configured around a central open-plan dining room and kitchen, with the bedrooms occupying one side of the house and the living areas positioned at the opposite end. The primary entrance is set under an enclosed porchway, leading through to the wide and generous hallway. At the heart of the house is a bright and airy open-plan dining room with sliding glazed doors spanning the length of one wall. This is a particularly wonderful room in summer months when the entire space can be opened out onto the garden.

Opposite the dining room is a beautifully designed kitchen, with full-height walls of purpose-built shelving on either side of the space. A long, narrow utility area is interconnected, concealed behind a partition wall. Leading off from the central corridor is the master bedroom, a large light-filled room with in-built storage and an en-suite bathroom. Three further bedrooms, each with a view to the garden, and a family bathroom are also set on this side of the house.

The living room feels incredibly open and bright whilst also very private; the mature hedging encloses the garden providing a natural backdrop. The room is organised around a central seating area with an original open fire place set to one side. A study (or workshop) is accessed from the living room with a large window looking out across the garden making it a very pleasant room from which to work.

A decked terrace with a brise soleil borders the house and the surrounding gardens are largely lawn with borders, with a number of beautiful specimen trees included within the boundary. The front garden area links to the long footpath which leads directly onto Hills Avenue. To the front of the house, at the foot of the pathway, there is a paved area which can be used as designated off-street parking space. Planning permission has also been previously granted to extend the house.

Syd Furness was a highly respected architect and professor at Cambridge University. His practice, Furness Associates, built a wide range of well-regarded buildings across Britain but it is this house for which he is perhaps best known. Its lightweight, articulated construction chimes with the work of leading architects of the time such as Norman Foster and Richard Rogers, yet Furness’ use of wood and simple refined layouts make for a more timeless design.

Hills Avenue is superbly located to the south east of Cambridge city centre, with easy access to excellent schools such as the Perse, Hills Road Sixth Form and Homerton College. It is also well placed for access to Addenbrookes hospital. World-renowned for centuries for its University and the quality of its historic architecture, the city is increasingly being recognised as an international business hub, thanks to its growing technology and science industries.

Although a city that is relatively intimate in scale, Cambridge’s international reputation ensures that it offers some of the country’s best shops, dining opportunities and cultural events; Kettles Yard and The Fitzwilliam Museum among the highlights. There are plentiful walking routes from the house towards the River Cam, with Granchester meadows, on route, offering opportunity for wild swimming.

A direct train service runs from Cambridge to London St Pancras in approximately 50 minutes. Cambridge train station is approximately 20 minutes on foot from Hills Avenue, with extensive inter-city bus services also operating within minutes’ walk from the house.

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.