Where
Hampstead, north London.
What
A 1939 house designed by the Hungarian-born modernist architect and designer Ernö Goldfinger for himself and his family.
Opened
1996. Number 2 Willow Road is one of very few modernist houses in Britain to be open to the public and was the first of its type to be acquired by the National Trust. It offers visitors the chance to see a modernist home as lived in by one family for just over 50 years.
Collections
2 Willow Road has its original contents, including furniture designed by Goldfinger. The Goldfingers' collection of modern art is also on display, including works by Henry Moore, Max Ernst and Bridget Riley.
Help at hand
Two full timers - custodian Rebecca Milner and her assistant, Claudia Sottile. Some 50-60 volunteers are also involved in a variety of roles such as tour guiding, room guiding, reception and garden as well as behind the scenes on conservation cleaning, research and archiving.
Budget
Funded by the National Trust. Adult admission is £5.30.
Visits
5,166 in 2008.
Highlights
"Goldfinger included some unusual and practical details in his furniture," says Milner. "Two of my favourites are the sideboard in the dining room - it is supported on sections of steel beam (RSJs) - and the desk in the studio, which has wonderful pivoting drawers.
As the house was left very much as it was lived in, there is still evidence of the Goldfingers' daily lives around, such as food stuffs in the kitchen - including a Christmas pudding!"
There are also quirky ornaments and souvenirs that the Goldfinger family collected and displayed in interesting ways around the house.
Survival tips
"We have developed a successful London walks programme to help generate extra income for the house," Milner says.
"Some of these walks take place in Hampstead and help to put
2 Willow Road within its local context. We also offer themed tours and have developed close links with architectural practices through events and visits."
Sticky moment
"Replacing the frayed stair rope banister was a recent conservation challenge," recalls Milner. "Goldfinger had used one continuous piece of rope up the centre of the spiral staircase. Pulling the new rope through the guide holes was quite a job and by the end the rope looked really hairy.
To achieve a smoother appearance akin to the original we had to give it a good shave."
Current projects
"Since last month, there has been a new display in the nursery, Design for a Modernist Childhood," Milner says.
"This aims to bring the original nursery design and furnishings to life for our visitors through the context of Goldfinger's designs for children's furniture and toys in the 1930s. It will highlight his work for the pioneering toy retailers Paul and Marjorie Abbatt, for whom he also designed a shop in 1936."
Hampstead, north London.
What
A 1939 house designed by the Hungarian-born modernist architect and designer Ernö Goldfinger for himself and his family.
Opened
1996. Number 2 Willow Road is one of very few modernist houses in Britain to be open to the public and was the first of its type to be acquired by the National Trust. It offers visitors the chance to see a modernist home as lived in by one family for just over 50 years.
Collections
2 Willow Road has its original contents, including furniture designed by Goldfinger. The Goldfingers' collection of modern art is also on display, including works by Henry Moore, Max Ernst and Bridget Riley.
Help at hand
Two full timers - custodian Rebecca Milner and her assistant, Claudia Sottile. Some 50-60 volunteers are also involved in a variety of roles such as tour guiding, room guiding, reception and garden as well as behind the scenes on conservation cleaning, research and archiving.
Budget
Funded by the National Trust. Adult admission is £5.30.
Visits
5,166 in 2008.
Highlights
"Goldfinger included some unusual and practical details in his furniture," says Milner. "Two of my favourites are the sideboard in the dining room - it is supported on sections of steel beam (RSJs) - and the desk in the studio, which has wonderful pivoting drawers.
As the house was left very much as it was lived in, there is still evidence of the Goldfingers' daily lives around, such as food stuffs in the kitchen - including a Christmas pudding!"
There are also quirky ornaments and souvenirs that the Goldfinger family collected and displayed in interesting ways around the house.
Survival tips
"We have developed a successful London walks programme to help generate extra income for the house," Milner says.
"Some of these walks take place in Hampstead and help to put
2 Willow Road within its local context. We also offer themed tours and have developed close links with architectural practices through events and visits."
Sticky moment
"Replacing the frayed stair rope banister was a recent conservation challenge," recalls Milner. "Goldfinger had used one continuous piece of rope up the centre of the spiral staircase. Pulling the new rope through the guide holes was quite a job and by the end the rope looked really hairy.
To achieve a smoother appearance akin to the original we had to give it a good shave."
Current projects
"Since last month, there has been a new display in the nursery, Design for a Modernist Childhood," Milner says.
"This aims to bring the original nursery design and furnishings to life for our visitors through the context of Goldfinger's designs for children's furniture and toys in the 1930s. It will highlight his work for the pioneering toy retailers Paul and Marjorie Abbatt, for whom he also designed a shop in 1936."
Links
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-2willowroad
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-2willowroad