{"id":467555,"date":"2026-03-10T09:59:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T09:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/467555\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T09:59:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T09:59:17","slug":"one-of-londons-most-extraordinary-houses-is-opening-its-doors-to-the-public","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/467555\/","title":{"rendered":"One of London\u2019s \u2018most extraordinary\u2019 houses is opening its doors to the public"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"The
\n\t\tThe Cosmic House is reopening soon (Photo by Sue Barr\/Jencks Foundation)<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no shortage of incredible architecture in London.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

From the brutalist Barbican Centre<\/a> to St Paul\u2019s Cathedral and the Shard, <\/a>we\u2019ve got so many fantastic buildings, and there are some pretty impressive homes<\/a> across the capital too.<\/p>\n

Usually, we don\u2019t get to peek behind the doors of people\u2019s houses, but one of the \u2018most extraordinary\u2019 in the city is inviting the public in this April.<\/p>\n

Known as The Cosmic House, the private Grade I listed house, turned museum, is only open during certain times of the year, and it gets booked up quickly.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"The
\n\t\tThe house has been hailed as one of the \u2018most extraordinary\u2019 in London (Picture: Sue Barr)
\nWhat is The Cosmic House?<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tWelcome to the Slice\t\t\t<\/p>\n

The Slice<\/a> is your weekly guide to what\u2019s happening in\u00a0London<\/a>, so if you\u2019re looking for restaurant<\/a> reviews,\u00a0drinks<\/a>\u00a0deals or just a great new exhibition to visit on a rainy Saturday in the capital, we\u2019ve got you covered.<\/p>\n

Click here for this week\u2019s edit<\/a> of the best things to do in town. <\/p>\n

The Slice newsletter also a brand new look! We’ll still be in your inbox every week, bringing you all the very best things to eat, drink and do in the capital. So if you want get the next edition before anyone else, sign up\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n

If you want to do it all on the cheap, you can also find our latest batch of exclusive hand-picked offers in partnership with Time Out here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Located in West London, on a residential street, The Cosmic House was the home of the late architect, Charles Jencks and writer Maggie Jencks.<\/p>\n

It was built between 1978 and 1983 in collaboration with Sir Terry Farrell, and is described as \u2018one of the key landmarks in the development of post-modernist architecture\u2019.<\/p>\n

From the outside, it might seem like a (somewhat) standard Kensington<\/a> home; however, the inside is anything but.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"The
\n\t\tThe Cosmic Oval at the entrance sets up the major and minor themes that visitors will find throughout the house.(Picture: Sue Barr)<\/p>\n

Each element of the building is said to be \u2018related to the human body and then to the larger cosmos\u2019, according to the house\u2019s website, making it a \u2018Gesamtkunstwerk\u2019, which is a German<\/a> word meaning a \u2018total work of art\u2019, or an \u2018immersive, synthesised artistic creation\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Cosmic House website adds: \u2018It is an architectural essay about our relationship to proportion, building, culture and the universe.\u2019<\/p>\n

Inside the house, you\u2019ll find a fireplace designed by Michael Graves in the Winter Room, a jacuzzi designed by Piers Gough, as well as works by Rem Koolhaas, Eduardo Paolozzi and Allen Jones.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s intended to provoke discussion about culture, cosmology, science and design.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"The<\/p>\n

The Four Square Room was Charles and Maggie’s bedroom (Picture: Sue Barr)<\/p>\n

The Four Square Room was Charles and Maggie’s bedroom (Picture: Sue Barr)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"The<\/p>\n

The Architectural Library with the slide-scraper in the foreground (Picture: Sue Barr)<\/p>\n

The Architectural Library with the slide-scraper in the foreground (Picture:\u2026<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"The<\/p>\n

The new Exhibition Room with the evolution of scientific representations of the sun in the ceiling lights, looking out to the Time Garden (Picture: Sue Barr)<\/p>\n

The new Exhibition Room with the evolution of scientific representations of the\u2026<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"The<\/p>\n

The Winter Room has a fireplace designed by Michael Graves (Picture: Sue Barr)<\/p>\n

The Winter Room has a fireplace designed by Michael Graves (Picture: Sue Barr)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"The<\/p>\n

The Spring Room with fireplace designed by Michael Graves, crowned with female representations of the 3 months of spring by Penelope Jencks (Picture: Sue Barr)<\/p>\n

The Spring Room with fireplace designed by Michael Graves, crowned with female\u2026<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"The<\/p>\n

The Solar Stair (Picture: Sue Barr)<\/p>\n

The Solar Stair (Picture: Sue Barr)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"The<\/p>\n

The Architectural Library (Picture: Sue Barr)<\/p>\n

The Architectural Library (Picture: Sue Barr)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"The<\/p>\n

Inside the stair case in the library (Picture: Sue Barr)<\/p>\n

Inside the stair case in the library (Picture: Sue Barr)<\/p>\n

How to visit The Cosmic House<\/p>\n

The house will be open to the public from April 22 until December.<\/p>\n

Opening hours run from 12:30 pm until 16:30 pm.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tickets to visit cost \u00a316 with a donation, \u00a313 without a donation and \u00a35 for students and can be purchased at thecosmichouse.org\/visit<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Guests are asked to arrive a few minutes before their visiting time, and can wait in the exterior amphitheatre steps in front of the entrance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A few restrictions for visiting are in place \u2013 guests must be over the age of 12, no one is allowed to wear high heels due to delicate flooring, and there\u2019s a steep spiral staircase, so some may struggle with this.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On social media<\/a>, those who have visited the house have praised it, with @lesserknownlondonn branding it \u2018one of London\u2019s most extraordinary historic houses,\u2019 in a post on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Similarly, a user known as @the_monkeypuzzletree said: \u2018One of my favourite ever visits to London was to see this house.\u2019<\/p>\n

While @kuce_sl said it was \u2018so beautiful\u2019, @why_visit thought it was a \u2018true hidden gem\u2019, and @thelma_elisa added it was \u2018such an interesting place\u2019.<\/p>\n

Others branded it \u2018amazing\u2019, \u2018groovy\u2019, and \u2018magical\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tHave you been to The Cosmic House?<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tSign up to Metro’s The Slice newsletter for your guide to what’s on in London, with trusted reviews, offers and giveaways.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story to share?<\/p>\n

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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