The Cosmic House — Attraction in London

Cosmic House is post-modernism at its ugliest, messiest extreme. There’s a reason why post-modernism was a short-lived and unpopular architectural concept, and those reasons are all encapsulated within this home’s interior. Room after room of symbolism, novelty, and rather kitsch classical and architectural references exhaust your visual sense.

Painted mdf is everywhere, there’s no integrity or honesty to the materials used, or the style in which it is implemented. And the links to cosmology are less astrophysics and veer toward new age symbolism.

That the honesty and integrity of Brutalism and modernism were replaced by the overwhelming mess of post-modernism is a travesty made manifest in Cosmic House.

Still, it is grade 1 listed, presumably to ensure that this pure post-modern interior remains in tact to warn the world of its pitfalls.

However, the house is a good experience to visit - the overwhelming post-modernism has a lot to look at and examine and some elements work well (some of the details in the bathrooms are excellent and the staircase is outstanding).

In terms of the success of the style it is worthy of just a couple of stars. As a successful museum to a failed architectural style being implemented as a piece of interior design, it deserves...

A Grade I listed post-modern architectural gem in the UK. Waiting six months for the ticket was well worth it, as this building holds the same Grade I status as Buckingham Palace and St. Paul's Cathedral, a rare designation for less than 3% of UK buildings.

The house, designed by Charles Jencks, masterfully blends humour, science, art, and innovation. However, the 1.5-hour self-guided tour felt rushed, and the addition of new contemporary art pieces, although admirable, somewhat diluted the focus. Charles designed the house to avoid 'overdesign,' and the added artworks could be overwhelming. This is purely my personal opinion.

The 37-page guidebook was exhaustive and difficult to complete within the limited tour time. I'm keen on a guided tour for my next visit to fully appreciate the original design elements.

In summary, the Cosmic House is a striking fusion of architecture and science-art. A revisit is already...

Cosmic House is an iconic architectural masterpiece in London, designed by renowned architect Charles Jencks. Built between 1978 and 1983, the house is a prime example of postmodern architecture, blending art, philosophy, and design. Jencks, known for his writings on architecture and postmodernism, created Cosmic House to reflect his belief that architecture should convey symbolic meaning, not just functional space.

The house features intricate details, thematic rooms, and cosmic symbolism throughout, with references to science, cosmology, and the history of the universe. It serves as a museum of sorts, encapsulating Jencks’ ideas on how architecture can interact with culture and metaphysical concepts. Since Jencks’ passing, the house has been preserved as a cultural and architectural landmark, celebrated for its imaginative design and...