Art Deco 33/52

This is the interior of our house, built by my grandparents in the 1930's Art Deco & Arts and Crafts period with architect Brian O'Rorke.  The architect was originally an ocean liner architect for the Orient Steam Navigation Company and this design aesthetic features prominently in the style and layout of the house.  

Brian O'Rorke was a specialist in open plan layouts, making use of removable and folding walls, sliding glass doors, and on his ships, large promenade decks to keep cooling breezes flowing through spaces passengers could relax in. His trademark was making rooms or cabins to feel breezy by being as light and uncluttered as possible. Furnishings were chosen for their clean lines, wood given matte finishes, and columns left unadorned.  All of this can be seen at Ashcombe Tower were hundreds of windows and open spaces with doors leading to terraces carry over these ideas.  The Marion Dorn textiles complete the picture.

More recently we have begun the herculean task of restoration.  Rewiring and redecoration after replumbing over the last four years.  The concealed lighting in the ceiling here is very much of the 1930’s design era, although for some reason the lighting in this particular circle was never installed, so we have installed LED lighting technology.  I’m sure it was an oversight when it was created.

Brian O'Rorke never was to design another private house - I recently heard from our own architect that it is widely known in architectural folklore that he had been so bullied by my grandmother that he never wanted to work on another private house!  He instead created the new Berkerly Hotel, The New Royal Observatory (Herstmonceux Science Centre) and the halls of residence at Nottingham University.