Five showstopping homes you can visit during Open House Festival 2022
Partnering with Rightmove for its 30th anniversary year, Open House Festival is an annual celebration of London’s people and its buildings.
Festival-goers are invited to experience a programme of normally off-limits homes and famous addresses, to learn about their history, and take a glimpse of the parts of London that usually lie behind closed doors.
In previous years, ticket holders have been able to visit Number 10 Downing Street, Battersea Power Station, and City Hall.
But it’s not just famous buildings that you can visit during the 2022 festival, which runs from 8th-21st September.
These five incredible homes are much-loved, lived-in residences, which will be opening their doors to give festival-goers an experience of life over the threshold. Hear the stories behind these homes from the people that know them best.
Open House is for all: whether you’re curious to learn about a mega renovation, see trailblazing architecture, or simply take a look at what life is like in an undiscovered London neighbourhood.
Get excitement brewing for the festival with these private homes taking part in Open House 2022.
Take a look.
Douglas Fir House, Muswell Hill
A serene minimalist home in north London:
Taking its name from the wood used to line this north London home, Douglas Fir House is a converted Edwardian terraced home with a sleek timber extension.
The architect’s brief was to bring the home further into the garden, rather than simply extending the house. Take in views from the timber pre-fabricated extension via its huge windows, or meander through the wildflower meadow-style garden.
Why the Open House team love Douglas Fir House:
“This home goes to show that when we rethink what materials can be used in prefabricated buildings, the results can be so impactful.”
Explore homes for sale in Muswell Hill
Mountain View, Penge
An eclectic hideaway in south east London:
This transformed home in Penge mixes restored original features and a commitment to sustainability. The midnight-blue front room gives a nod to the home’s Edwardian heritage, while the colour-splashed kitchen is made from recycled chopping boards and bottle tops.
Playfulness outdoors has seen the owners restore a damaged exterior wall to create the eponymous ‘Mountain View’.
Why the Open House team love Mountain View:
“This home epitomises what you can achieve when you throw the rule book out and make your home into an extension of you and your personality.”
Explore homes for sale in Penge
Tin House, Shepherds Bush
An orange pavilion in west London:
A series of burnt-orange tin structures make up this striking home in west London. The building is made up of majority single-storey pavilions, with each part looking onto a serene, secluded central courtyard with a sunken water feature and earthy paving. Each pavilion has a sloping roof on each four sides, casting sunlight right through the centre for the ultimate natural spotlight.
Why the Open House team love Tin House:
“London is peppered with awkward corners and titbits of land, yet here is Tin House, proud and beaming in burnt orange, showing exactly what can be done when imagination and care is given to these spaces.”
Explore homes for sale in Shepherds Bush
Curve Appeal, East Dulwich
A transformed 1920s family home:
A series of arcs throughout this East Dulwich home help create a softness and flow, with internal windows, doors and alcoves sticking to the decidedly rounded theme.
This reimagined 1920s home is centred around busy family life, and the resulting space is functional yet beautifully elegant. Expect to see clever storage spaces filled with treasured family objects, while big sliding doors and glazed areas throw natural light across the bright interior.
Why the Open House team love Curve Appeal:
“One joinery element and a limitless array of proudly presented family objects: this project celebrates and exhibits the joy of the day-to-day artefacts that make up home life.”
Explore homes for sale in East Dulwich
Dorchester House, Herne Hill
A glamorous Art Deco home:
Designed by the same architects who dreamt up some of Britain’s most well-known Art Deco cinemas, Dorchester House was the personal home of the Morrell Brothers, who were known for developing many of south London’s estates.
Luxe interior design details include a glamorous onyx-clad bathroom, an invigorating body-jet shower and a focal-point entrance staircase with a solid nickel handrail.
Why the Open House team love Dorchester House:
“This house is a real injection of early 20th century glamour to the festival programme. It’s a fantastic example of original design being preserved and cared for.”
Explore homes for sale in Herne Hill
Festival booking opens in August. You can sign up to receive updates from Open House here.
READ MORE: Visit an incredible self-build neighbourhood in London