john pawson offers calming respite with welsh retreat for living architecture

providing the opportunity to holiday in residences designed exclusively by acclaimed architects and designers, living architecture is an ongoing program that aims to promote, educate, and influence discussion about modern architecture in the UK. the most recent residence is the john pawson-designed ‘life house’, which is buried in the hills in tŷ bywyd, wales. the cascading scheme unfolds as a place of calm and solace, with a generous living area, large bathrooms, bedrooms and common areas that allow for both complete privacy and, when desired, sociability and communion.

the house’s program is arranged as a series of self-contained folds, opening off two corridors
all images © gilbert mccarragher

‘from the beginning, the thinking behind the life house was an uncompromisingly modern design where it would be possible to inhabit a different sort of architectural space,’ explains john pawson. ‘experiments with massing and orientation have produced a composition that is bedded into the fall of the land.’

the music bedroom contains a sound system with a curated selection of transcendent and calming music

the exterior of the building is constructed from black danish handmade bricks, allowing the structure to unobtrusively occupy the landscape. accommodating up to six people, the polished terrazzo floors and the light timber ceilings combine to create a bright and tranquil ambiance.

the corridors are planned as key architectural experiences, each charged with its own distinctive character

continuing with the idea of serenity and restoration, there is a a bathing bedroom which allows guests to lie back and enjoy views onto the welsh valley. one of the bedrooms is integrated with a suitably generous music system and a carefully curated selection of transcendent and calming music from all ages and genres.

the bedroom instills a sense of serenity and contemplation

the design, which sleeps up to six people, is based upon the concept of a retreat

the bathroom features a cylindrical sink

the bathing bedroom provides a room-based bathing platform

the polished terrazzo floor, set against the white brick, and light timber ceilings, creates a peaceful and life calming space

the scheme is constructed of danish handmade bricks; black for the exterior and white for the interior

pawson’s residence is set in mid wales, near the small town of llanbister, amidst a landscape of rolling hills