How did one London house spark both architectural innovation and literary inspiration? That house is 2 Willow Road. Today we stand before 2 Willow Road. It is a modernist house designed by Ernő Goldfinger in 1939. This building is now a National Trust property. It is open to the public for tours.
Ernő Goldfinger, a Budapest-born architect, designed 2 Willow Road. His vision was controversial from the start. Critics feared an angular concrete block disrupting Hampstead’s Georgian architecture. They also worried about its proximity to the untamed countryside.
Goldfinger initially wanted to build a block of flats. Permission was denied. He revised his plans to create three residential properties. This included 2 Willow Road. Even this revised project faced opposition. Conservationist Henry Brooke and author Ian Fleming were among the critics.
It’s said that Ian Fleming’s dislike of Goldfinger’s architecture led him to name a James Bond villain “Goldfinger”. The architect defended his design. He emphasized its use of brick and its unobtrusive profile. Goldfinger argued it was no more angular than the surrounding terraces.
Completed in 1939, 1-3 Willow Road became a feature of Hampstead architecture. Number 2 Willow Road was Goldfinger’s family home. He lived there until his death in 1987. The National Trust acquired the house in 1993. It has been open to the public since 1996.
Although modest in scale, 1-3 Willow Road established Goldfinger’s reputation. He became a coming and controversial architect. Denied concrete construction in Hampstead, his Corbusian training influenced later Brutalist designs. Balfron Tower and Trellick Tower are examples. Today, both towers and 1-3 Willow Road are Grade II listed.
2 Willow Road embodies Goldfinger’s modernist design principles. He aimed for homes to be functional, efficient, and beautiful. The house features concrete and steel construction. Large windows and a flat roof define its exterior.
Inside, an open-plan living and dining area create a modern space. A spiral staircase connects the three floors. A rooftop terrace, balcony, and basement cinema add unique features. Goldfinger paid close attention to detail. The house features materials like marble, oak, and glass. He also designed much of the furniture, including a desk with swiveling drawers.
Movable partitions allowed for flexible living spaces. Folding screens separated his wife’s art studio from the dining room. A concrete shelf was added to the first-floor window. Painted white, it reflected natural light. Skylights lit the bathrooms on the top floor. Goldfinger preferred wall lights. He designed theater-style glass shades with brass fittings.
Goldfinger lived in the house with his wife Ursula and their two children. The house reflected their lifestyle and personalities. They had an impressive art collection. It included works by Picasso, Miró, and Léger. The house also had a workshop and studio. Goldfinger entertained friends and clients there.
After Goldfinger’s death, the house was donated to the National Trust. It opened as a museum in 1996. The house has been restored to its original condition. Visitors can see it as it was when Goldfinger lived there. An exhibition space features temporary exhibits about Goldfinger’s life and work.
Visiting 2 Willow Road offers a glimpse into modernist living. It showcases Goldfinger’s architectural vision and his family’s life. The National Trust maintains the house not as a museum, but as if Goldfinger just left. Food packets remain on shelves, and papers sit on the desk. 2 Willow Road is a testament to modernist design. It is also a reflection of a family’s life within its walls.