Bishopsfield, Harlow, Essex

Low-lying and lateral, this bright three-bedroom house has been brilliantly renovated in recent years with the utmost sensitivity for its mid-century origins. Its plan takes an L-shape, with sliding glazed doors that provide several points of passage to a generous private garden. The house forms part of Frederick Gibberd’s master plan for Harlow, Essex, a town that sits on the periphery of the capital and is a quick 30-minute train from London Liverpool Street.



The Architect



Sir Frederick Gibberd (1908-84) was one of Britain's most influential Modern Movement architects. He set up a private practice in 1930, winning his first commission for Pullman Court in Streatham at the age of 23. Increasingly recognised as the 'flat' architect, Gibberd, along with FRS Yorke, co-wrote the influential publication 'The Modern Flat' in 1937.



Gibberd also became a member of the Modern Architectural Research Group (MARS) alongside other key figures of 20th-century modernism including Serge Chermayeff, Wells Coates and Berthold Lubetkin. He began to extensively study town planning, leading to his appointment in 1947 as planner for the new town of Harlow, Essex - recognised today as one of the most successful schemes of its kind.





The Development



Sir Frederick Gibberd designed Harlow New Town from 1945 as part of the new government’s policy for post-war reconstruction. It was one of several new towns built under the New Towns Act of 1946, passed after World War II to ease overcrowding in London. The programme's goal was to re-house some of the people who were to be displaced from London and other towns in the south-east of England in well-designed communities with good services and amenities, while protecting and, where possible, enhancing environmental quality.



The Tour



A quiet passageway cuts through neighbouring buildings to reach the front door of this house. Entry is to a generous hall with space to kick off shoes and hang coats. A handy storage cupboard lies to one side. As with almost every other room, glazing at the far end of this space faces out to the private garden.



A cut-out section of wall adjacent to a slatted pine balustrade leads through to the house’s most remarkable space: an exceptionally bright open-plan living area with roof lights, high-level windows and, again, glazed doors to the garden. Broad oak floorboards run underfoot, and there is space for both a dining and sitting area at the fore. The house is warmed by underfloor heating, zoned in three seperate areas.



Beyond lies the kitchen, with white units that, along with the white-painted walls, amplify brightness. It has plenty of storage space in cabinetry and atop an oak counter that curves round to form a generous cantilevered breakfast bar. Appliances are integrated and include an induction hob and an oven. Above the sink is a low, ribbon-style window with a bright sill for pots of kitchen herbs.



The room curves round to form a corridor that connects to two bedrooms. At the far end, the largest is set beneath a mono-pitched roof with a deep skylight that washes the space with brightness. A sage-green wall mimics the greenery framed by a sliding door to the garden.



Next door is a second generous bedroom; useful storage cupboards flank its entrance. Here, and in the third bedroom (which is currently used as a study), horizontal, wall-to-wall windows draw in plenty of light. There is also a WC and extensive built-in storage in this room.



A departure from the understated decorative approach adopted elsewhere, the bathroom is lined with beautiful terrazzo and glazed pink tiles. On one side, a large walk-in shower has refined matt black fixtures; on the other, a large freestanding bathtub is perfect for long soaks.



Outdoor Space



Largely laid to lawn, the garden is a generous space with plenty of scope for sun loungers or for games in the summer sun. A mature crab apple tree casts a welcome shade over part of the grass in the summer months and there are beds filled with colourful wildflowers. Leafy ivy and a rose bush climb across the rear wall. In the far corner, a stone-laid terrace is ideal for an outdoor dining set-up; a second terrace abuts the principal bedroom.



The Area



Harlow was one of several new towns built under the New Towns Act of 1946, passed after World War II to ease overcrowding in London and offer a vision of modern living. Sir Frederick Gibberd intended Harlow to be an outstanding example of the comfortable marriage of town and country, with lots of well-integrated open space to separate residential neighbourhoods and commercial zones.



Today, the town has some fantastic independent cafés, pubs and restaurants nearby, notably the award-winning New Ground Café, the Griffin Café, The Rainbow and Dove, and Mui and Koko Noodle Bar. A monthly farmers' market is planned to commence later this year.



Nearby is The Gibberd Garden, a beautiful Grade II-listed landscaped garden created by Sir Frederick Gibberd and his wife Patricia. With their former home of nearly 50 years at its centre, the garden comprises lawns, woodland and their personal collection of modern sculpture and architectural pieces, with a tearoom and a lively programme comprising music, theatre, art and writing events throughout the warmer months. Parndon Wood Nature Reserve is less than a 15-minute drive away and has two beautiful walking trails, a café and a centre for children’s activities. Sunset Sessions is a series of open-air music events that take place here throughout the summer months.



Harlow is also home to Harlow Sculpture Town: a title that refers to a collection of over 90 public sculptures sited throughout the area, and Parndon Mill Gallery, which presents exhibitions approximately every six weeks.



There are several schools nearby, including Passmores Academy.



With easy access to the M11, north London is less than an hour’s drive away. Stratford Westfield and Canary Wharf are around 40 and 45 minutes’ drive respectively. Central line services run from Epping station, an 18-minute drive from the house, and Harlow Town station runs Stansted Express services to London Liverpool Street in 30 minutes. Stansted International Airport is around 20 minutes away by car.



Council Tax Band: B