Life House has been designed by John Pawson as a place for calm and reflection. Located in mid Wales, near the town of Llanbister, it is a timeless example of architectural simplicity and beauty based on the concept of a retreat, where serenity, contemplation and restoration are foremost.
Life House is constructed of Danish handmade bricks; black for the exterior and white for the interior, and is the result of five years of work by the architect John Pawson, working in conjunction with our founder Alain de Botton.
Deeply influenced by Japanese design and the architecture of the Benedictine monks, John's work has focused on ways of approaching the fundamental problems of space, proportion, light and materials, rather than on developing a set of stylistic mannerisms.
Life House has been designed using a very limited palette of materials, brick, wood, and terrazzo; these bring both a warmth and intimacy to the house and living spaces within. With the interior walls being predominantly white bricks, the surprise of encountering the only black brick-lined corridor is both surprising and intriguing. This change in pace and perception prepares the guest for discovering a hidden room not normally associated with a domestic dwelling; a place to purely sit and contemplate, without distraction. The furniture, crockery, cutlery and hanging pendant lights have also been designed by John Pawson, completing the fully crafted experience.
