# Living Architecture

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**Living Architecture** is a not-for-profit [holiday home rental](/source/Vacation_rental) company in the United Kingdom.[1][2] It was founded by philosopher and writer [Alain de Botton](/source/Alain_de_Botton), who launched the scheme in 2010 in what its website claims is the first programme of its kind.[3] The aim is to make exceptional buildings available for more people to experience by commissioning them from leading architects as holiday homes.

The houses include:

- The Balancing Barn, near [Aldeburgh](/source/Aldeburgh), Suffolk: opened October 2010. Architect: [MVRDV](/source/MVRDV) with [Mole](https://www.molearchitects.co.uk/project/balancing-barn) as Executive Architect
- The Shingle House, [Dungeness](/source/Dungeness_(headland)), Kent: opened Nov 2010. Architect: [Nord architecture](/source/Nord_architecture)
- The Dune House, [Thorpeness](/source/Thorpeness), Suffolk: opened Dec 2010. Architect: JVA with [Mole](https://www.molearchitects.co.uk/project/dune-house) as Executive Architect
- [A Room for London](/source/A_Room_for_London), on the roof of the [Queen Elizabeth Hall](/source/Queen_Elizabeth_Hall), [South Bank](/source/South_Bank), London: opened 2012. A collaboration with cultural organisation [Artangel](/source/Artangel). Launched as part of the [2012 Cultural Olympiad](/source/2012_Cultural_Olympiad). Architect: [David Kohn](/source/David_Kohn_(architect))[4] and artist [Fiona Banner](/source/Fiona_Banner).[5]
- The Long House, [Cockthorpe](/source/Cockthorpe), Norfolk: opening Oct 2011. Architect: [Hopkins Architects](/source/Hopkins_Architects)
- Secular Retreat, near [Salcombe](/source/Salcombe), Devon: Completed in 2019. Architect: [Peter Zumthor](/source/Peter_Zumthor) with [Mole](https://www.molearchitects.co.uk/project/secular-retreat) as Executive Architect[6]
- A House for Essex (or "Julie’s House"), [Wrabness](/source/Wrabness), Essex: opened in 2015. Created by the artist [Grayson Perry](/source/Grayson_Perry), working with [Fashion Architecture Taste](/source/Fashion_Architecture_Taste) (FAT)[7][8][9]
- Life House, near [Llanbister](/source/Llanbister), Wales: Completed in 2016. Architect: [John Pawson](/source/John_Pawson)

## References

1. Rowan Moore (2010-09-26). ["Living Architecture: giving a modernist spin to holiday homes | Art and design | The Observer"](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2010/sep/26/living-architecture-alain-de-botton). Guardian. Retrieved 2013-02-11.

1. Architecture. ["Have a holiday in modern architecture"](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/architecture/8018674/Have-a-holiday-in-modern-architecture.html). Telegraph. Retrieved 2013-02-11.

1. ["Living Architecture. Holidays in modern architecture"](http://www.living-architecture.co.uk). Living-architecture.co.uk. 2012-07-06. Retrieved 2013-02-11.

1. ["David Kohn Architects: A Room for London"](http://www.davidkohn.co.uk/projects/a-room-for-london)

1. Dean (8 February 2011). ["Boat-Shaped Room To Be Built On Queen Elizabeth Hall"](http://londonist.com/2011/02/boat-shaped-pavilion-to-be-built-on-queen-elizabeth-hall.php). Londonist. Retrieved 2013-02-11.

1. McCormick, Megan. ["Architects’ summer retreats"](https://architecturetoday.co.uk/architects-summer-retreats/). *Architecture Today*. Retrieved 8 September 2023.

1. Oliver Wainwright (15 May 2015). ["For Grayson Perry's Essex house, the only way was 'bonkers as possible'"](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/may/15/for-grayson-perrys-essex-house-the-only-way-was-bonkers-as-possible). *The Guardian*. Retrieved 18 May 2015.

1. ["Art fans flock to 'Grayson Perry house' in Essex"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-31662285). BBC. 27 February 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.

1. Will Gompertz (16 May 2015). ["Take a walk around the house that Grayson Perry designed (video)"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/entertainment-arts-32751434). BBC. Retrieved 18 May 2015.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.living-architecture.co.uk)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Living Architecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_Architecture) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_Architecture?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.