Blue House, London, E2

At a mid-point along the ever evolving landscape of Hackney Road in Bethnal Green, a bright beacon of optimism rises above the recessed Georgian facades. The Blue House was designed by the architect Sean Griffiths under his highly revered collective, FAT Architecture, and exists today, not only as a landmark of the cultural forces that drove their practice, but as an accomplished, versatile and generally brilliant home.

The building has been described by Griffiths as 'a house within a house' owing to the joyful blue cladding, made doll-house-like through its whimsical crenellations. To observe it in the context of its quiet residential setting is like stumbling onto a film set. And yet, somehow, its exclamation achieves anonymity for the abode within; like hiding in plain sight.

The house was designed to be used in a variety of manners and iterations, with separate entrances and staircases allowing for division into separate but connectable units for working and living. In its truest form, however, it is a flowing family home of almost 2,300 sq ft.

The main entrance is through a large gate to the welcome of a courtyard garden bursting with the prehistoric forms of tree ferns and tetrapanax. Beyond the decking is a wall of bi-fold glazing to the kitchen and dining room; an open interaction between inside and out in the warmer months.

Inside, the ground floor is a series of connected spaces, defined by columns but essentially open. An immaculate hardwood parquet floor provides visual continuity and its rich brown hue is a stunning contrast against the playful blues, pinks and mirrored sections of walls. A log burning stove is tucked discreetly in the corner of the living space.

Staircases at either end of the house give the option of independence to the distinct upper levels. Where right angles might do, the curvature is used to soften the routes, creating a gentle mystery to each turn and some intriguing internal perimeters to two of the bedrooms. So too, the transition from moss green carpet on the staircase to the rigid warmth of cork across the upper three floors.

The current arrangement of the house is with three bedrooms, an office/workroom with its own kitchenette and access from the street, and a top floor studio, though the house could just as well be arranged with five bedrooms.

The studio and terrace was a more recent addition to the house by Griffiths under his latest practice, Modern Architect. An ode to the family's seaside cottage and the Jarman-esque shingle gardens of Dungeness, it rises above the blue facade in a glory of pebbledash made contemporary by yellow edging and the green steel frame of a large pivot door; a datum mirrored inside in the deep portal window.

NEARBY

Garner Street lies just off Hackney Road in Bethnal Green, a short walk from Shoreditch, Hoxton and the rest of Hackney's offerings. Haggerston Park and London Fields are close by for their green spaces and the latter's Broadway Market.

This particular section of Hackney Road has become a hub for some of east London's most elevated favourites, with Morito, Sager & Wilde, and The Marksman all on the doorstep. Columbia Road is also a few minutes' walk away for its ebullient weekly flower market and excellent dining spots like Campania and Brawn, among others.

There are many transport options close by for varying lines into central London. These include Cambridge Heath for short trips into Liverpool Street, Bethnal Green for the Central Line, and Old Street for the Northern Line.