1956: House of the Future
Unknown photographer. Alison and Peter Smithson, architects. Interior view of the House of the Future looking down from the viewing platform, Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition, London, March 1956. DR1995:0042
Because we have the drawings in our collection, we’ve accumulated quite a bit of content related to the House of the Future. Some of it appears below.
From our collection database:
Peter and Alison Smithson designed the House of the Future for the Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition. The exhibition was held in the Olympia Exhibition Centre from March 6-31 1956 (DR1995:0046:001-006). The House of the Future was never intended for actual production but for theoretical discussion. Designed around a courtyard garden that supplied natural lighting and private outdoor space, there were few windows on the exterior walls allowing the houses to be placed directly side-by-side. For viewing purposes, there was no roof but an elevated platform so exhibition goers could look inside the house from above. Appliances and work areas were hidden from view within cubicles allowing for a large open space in which to live.
Drawing the House of the Future
Drawings by Alison and Peter Smithson
Diagrammatic plan taken five inches above floor level, House of the Future, Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition, London, between 1955 and 6 March 1956. DR1995:0039
Plan taken five inches above floor level, 19 December 1954. DR1995:0017
Plan for middle level showing arrangement of the furniture, between 1955 and 6 March 1956. DR1995:0011
Plan showing arrangement of furniture, between 1955 and 6 March 1956. DR1995:0018
Roof drainage plan, between 1955 and 6 March 1956. DR1995:0020
Axonometric of final scheme, between 1955 and 6 March 1956. DR1995:0037
Exterior elevation showing main entrance and viewing apertures to living room and bedroom, between 1955 and 6 March 1956. DR1995:0021
Exterior elevation and sections showing viewing apertures to bedroom, between 1955 and 6 March 1956. DR1995:0022
Exterior elevation showing viewing apertures to bathing area, between 1955 and 6 March 1956. DR1995:0023
Exterior elevation showing viewing apertures to kitchen and living room, between 1955 and 6 March 1956. DR1995:0024
Section (PP) of bedroom and elevation of chair storage area, between 1955 and 6 March 1956. DR1995:0029
Section (QQ) and lateral elevation for bathing area, 4 December 1955. DR1995:0030
Section (RR) of bathing area and a section for the washbowl, between 1955 and 6 March 1956. DR1995:0031
Section (WW) of kitchen with elevations of dishwasher and “glow bowl,” between 1955 and 6 March 1956. DR1995:0025
Section (YY) taken at bedroom, between 1955 and 6 March 1956. DR1995:0027
Section (ZZ) of kitchen and living room, 19 December 1955. DR1995:0028
Elevations and plan for the Pogo Chair, 26 August 1955. DR1995:0013
Plans, sections, elevations, and details for the bathtub, downspout, rain butt, washbowl, bed lamps, and bed, between 1955 and 6 March 1956. DR1995:0016
Section showing glazing details, between 1955 and 6 March 1956. DR1995:0032
Plan, elevation, and section for arrangement of viewing platform, 12 July 1955. DR1995:0034
Plans and elevations for galley island, 19 December 1955. DR1995:0035
Plan and section showing circulation of exhibition viewers, between 1955 and 6 March 1956. DR1995:0036
Alison and Peter Smithson, architects. Edward Wright, draughtsman. Blueprint showing two methods of projecting text onto exterior walls of the House of the Future, 24 January 1956. DR1995:0043
Alison and Peter Smithson, architects. Edward Wright, draughtsman. Print showing dimensions of text to be projected onto walls of the House of the Future, 24 January 1956. DR1995:0044
Alison and Peter Smithson. Proof showing the font created for the House of the Future, 1956. DR1995:0045
Section (XX) and section of “glow bowl,” between 1955 and 6 March 1956. DR1995:0026
