Thematic House

The Thematic House is an 1840s villa in London's Holland Park that was redesigned from 1978 to 1985 and demonstrates postmodern architecture. A central circular staircase, curved roofs, and large conservatories structure the interior, with rooms organized around seasonal themes.

Charles Jencks and Terry Farrell transformed this 1840s end-of-terrace villa from 1978 to 1985, creating a major statement of postmodern architectural design. Their work established the building as one of the key examples of this architectural approach.

Symbolic elements fill the rooms throughout the building, from pedimented bookshelves to a sundial window seat and a hot tub beneath an inverted classical dome. These touches show how the designers used shapes and references to create layers of meaning in everyday spaces.

The building has been open to visitors since September 2021 and can only be seen through scheduled appointments. It is best to arrange your visit in advance to secure a suitable time slot.

Natural light enters through the Solar Stair and the Moonwell, a semi-circular opening that channels light into the darker areas of the house. This system reveals how the designers wanted to incorporate the sun and moon directly into the architecture itself.