Living Architecture

{{Short description|Holiday home rental company in the United Kingdom}}

File:DSC 8728-balancing-barn.JPG

Living Architecture is a not-for-profit holiday home rental company in the United Kingdom.{{cite web|author=Rowan Moore |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2010/sep/26/living-architecture-alain-de-botton |title=Living Architecture: giving a modernist spin to holiday homes | Art and design | The Observer |publisher=Guardian |date=2010-09-26 |accessdate=2013-02-11}}{{cite web|author=Architecture |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/architecture/8018674/Have-a-holiday-in-modern-architecture.html |title=Have a holiday in modern architecture |publisher=Telegraph |date= |accessdate=2013-02-11}}

It was founded by philosopher and writer Alain de Botton, who launched the scheme in 2010 in what its website claims is the first programme of its kind.{{cite web|url=http://www.living-architecture.co.uk |title=Living Architecture. Holidays in modern architecture |publisher=Living-architecture.co.uk |date=2012-07-06 |accessdate=2013-02-11}} 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, Suffolk: opened October 2010. Architect: MVRDV with [https://www.molearchitects.co.uk/project/balancing-barn Mole] as Executive Architect
• The Shingle House, Dungeness, Kent: opened Nov 2010. Architect: Nord architecture
• The Dune House, Thorpeness, Suffolk: opened Dec 2010. Architect: JVA with [https://www.molearchitects.co.uk/project/dune-house Mole ] as Executive Architect
• A Room for London, on the roof of the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank, London: opened 2012. A collaboration with cultural organisation Artangel. Launched as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Architect: David Kohn{{Cite web|url=http://www.davidkohn.co.uk/projects/a-room-for-london|title = David Kohn Architects: A Room for London}} and artist Fiona Banner.{{cite web|author=Dean |url=http://londonist.com/2011/02/boat-shaped-pavilion-to-be-built-on-queen-elizabeth-hall.php |title=Boat-Shaped Room To Be Built On Queen Elizabeth Hall |publisher=Londonist |date= 8 February 2011|accessdate=2013-02-11}}
• The Long House, Cockthorpe, Norfolk: opening Oct 2011. Architect: Hopkins Architects
• Secular Retreat, near Salcombe, Devon: Completed in 2019. Architect: Peter Zumthor with [https://www.molearchitects.co.uk/project/secular-retreat Mole] as Executive Architect{{cite web |last1=McCormick |first1=Megan |title=Architects’ summer retreats |url=https://architecturetoday.co.uk/architects-summer-retreats/ |website=Architecture Today |access-date=8 September 2023}}
• A House for Essex (or "Julie’s House"), Wrabness, Essex: opened in 2015. Created by the artist Grayson Perry, working with Fashion Architecture Taste (FAT){{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/may/15/for-grayson-perrys-essex-house-the-only-way-was-bonkers-as-possible |title=For Grayson Perry's Essex house, the only way was 'bonkers as possible' |author=Oliver Wainwright |newspaper=The Guardian |date=15 May 2015 |accessdate=18 May 2015}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-31662285 |title=Art fans flock to 'Grayson Perry house' in Essex |publisher=BBC |date=27 February 2015 |accessdate=18 May 2015}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32751434 |title=Take a walk around the house that Grayson Perry designed (video) |author=Will Gompertz |publisher=BBC |date=16 May 2015 |accessdate=18 May 2015}}