A House for Essex

For inside space that’s as stunning as the outside views, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything more mind-blowing than Living Architecture’s River Stour-side property, A House for Essex (lower right). A collaboration between FAT Architecture and artist Grayson Perry, the house in Wrabness is home to specially-commissioned works exploring the unique qualities of Essex.
Full of eccentricities, the interior features a number of Perry’s hand-made ceramic pots and tapestries depicting the fictional life of Julie Cope, an ‘Essex Everywoman’. Visitors pass through a series of unfolding spaces before entering the ‘chapel’ (top right), concealed behind two ‘hidden’ doors and organised around a striking decorative object – part medieval rood screen, part baroque façade – that frames a ceramic statue of Julie herself. Upstairs the two bedrooms – with views to east and west – have walk-through cupboards that lead to internal balconies overlooking the chapel space.
The exterior, clad in more than 1,900 green and white ceramic tiles, are cast from originals made by Perry, depicting Julie as mother and icon, along with symbols associated with her life. Perry describes the design of the house as “bonkers yet dignified” and says: “I hope the people who stay in the House for Essex find it playful yet monumental, cosy and maybe slightly disturbing. ”
A House for Essex is available to rent on a short-term holiday basis, and can sleep up to four people in two bedrooms. Two or three-night stays are allocated by public ballot and prices range from £870 - £1850 depending on the duration and dates