Designed and built by the architect Phineas Manasseh in 1996, this four bedroom house with roof terrace stands on the corner of Mildmay Grove North, at the entrance to a mews. Influenced by post-war modernist architects such as Le Corbusier, who believed it was their duty to be of service to society, Manasseh built his house contextually, using similar proportions to the Georgian terraced town houses that run parallel to the street. 

Phineas, an original designer, was nonetheless inspired by the influential work of his father, Leonard Manasseh, OBE, in the 1960s and 70s. The scarcity of the post-war era demanded resourceful building and homes designed to serve and symbolise a new, modern way of living. Phineas’s house, brown brick, three storeys high and very much square, has that raw simplicity iconic of the mid century. 

Manasseh designed the ground floor as a studio, with direct access from the street through modernist iron gates. Subsequently the studio was converted into two double bedrooms and a WC, transforming the property into a large family home. Secure, gated storage space provides ample room for bikes, easy movement of furniture and could also be used as a space to display pots of plants and flowers. The two double bedrooms are spacious, bright and neutrally carpeted. The WC, which could be converted into a full bathroom, has winding, exposed piping and its floor is clad in square Villa Savoye style tiles. 

These tiles are seamlessly continued as treads for a set of poured concrete steps leading to the first floor, which is also entered by a wooden stairway from the street to the front door. In the entrance an industrial curved-neck outdoor light hangs over a wooden deck, home to an array of leafy pot plants. 

Referencing an apartment in the Unite d’habitation, the double height first floor has reclaimed oak parquet, floor to ceiling glazing in Scandinavian Rationel wooden frames and a wrap-around mezzanine that forms a large part of this impressive living space. A winding staircase with open risers and minimal timber treads provides flowing, vertical circulation and has a quintessential tubular handrail of the international style. 

A dynamic curved element runs through the first floor and mezzanine, cleverly concealing a shower room, storage and workspace. Again reminiscent of the architecture of the Unite d’habitation, this sculptural feature evokes the smooth, curving shapes of the ocean liners that inspired Corbusier. 

Spacious and sunlit, the open-plan kitchen, dining and living area accommodates flexible living. The kitchen has modular fitted units and drawers in a muted blue, evoking the post-war era, and a simple, utilitarian wooden work surface. Situated in front of sliding glazed doors, the dining area leads onto a street facing balcony from a timber step, wide enough to use as a contemplative nook; the mezzanine above acts as an indoor brise soleil. Beneath the rear of the mezzanine is a comfortable living space in which to recline. 

Next to the kitchen is a utilitarian shower room; built within the curved sculptural element that unifies the two levels of the floor, its curved wall is clad in small white tiles and has simple fixtures. 

Up the winding staircase is a mezzanine gallery wrapped round three sides of the double height space, overlooking the kitchen and dining areas. At the rear of the building above the living room, the mezzanine landing leads to a cosy snug from which one can interact with those below, and a compact home office with built-in storage, cleverly built behind the curved element. The floor here is laid with dove grey vinyl from The Colour Flooring Company.

Through the open plan office is the front of the mezzanine, another large and bright free-plan living area offering adaptability for family life; the floor here is laid in yellow marmoleum, made from natural linseed. There is space for a library or music area and at the front of the house, a sunny view of the length of the street from two aspects. 

The staircase continues to the second floor, which has two large double bedrooms, a family bathroom and a utility space next to the bathroom, in the European style. The flooring on this level is poured concrete and there is a curved wall between the bedrooms, mirroring the Corbusian element on the floor below. Running as a continuous unit through three floors of the stairwell, there is a plywood cupboard which was built on site by a German ‘wandergeselle’ or journeyman joiner. The principal bedroom has floor to ceiling bespoke fitted cabinetry and full height windows with views onto Mildmay Grove. 

The family bathroom has a very European feel: utilitarian, but beautiful in its raw simplicity. The bath is on a raised level so you can look out of the window, with a neat wooden step to reach it. The poured concrete flooring continues into the bathroom and there is a terrazzo  countertop in neutral tones and a blue and white tiled surround. 

To top-off this Corbusian dream, the house has a roof garden in the clouds, with far reaching views of London. It is paved in red engineering bricks, with a high strength and low porosity, is bounded by horizontal timber slatted balustrading and currently houses an array of established pot plants. This special garden provides an undisturbed, reposeful space in which to relax, potter in the open air and take in the sights and sounds of the city. 

Mildmay Grove North is within easy reach of the independent shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs of Newington Green; Jolene, Cadet and The Lady Mildmay are favourites amongst locals. Alongside the open space at Newington Green, St Paul’s park and shrubbery are a short walk from the house; Clissold Park and Highbury Fields are also easily reachable.

Canonbury, Dalston Junction and Dalston Kingsland stations are all within walking distance and run Overground services to Highbury & Islington, Shoreditch and Stratford. Several buses run into central London and the neighbouring area.