'Space House' was designed by Peter Foggo
and David Thomas in 1963 and completed in 1965. This
was an early project for a pair of young architects
who went on to become directors at Arup Associates and
later to establish their own successful practices.

Foggo and Thomas met whilst studying architecture
in Liverpool in the 1950s. The pair of them both shared
a passion for the work of Mies van der Rohe, and even
once persuaded the legendary architect to travel to
Merseyside to give a talk to students.

'Space House' was designed by Foggo and
Thomas in their spare time as both were then working
in other architectural offices. It is said that they
came home from their day jobs and spent between 8pm
and midnight working on other architectural projects
for themselves, such as this one. Another house designed
by Foggo & Thomas at around this time, 'Sorrel
House' near Chichester, is now Grade II* listed.

Foggo and Thomas both went on to work with Ove Arup
at Arup Associates. Foggo, who sadly died in 1993, was
largely responsible for the celebrated design of the
Broadgate complex in the City of London. Foggo's
colleagues at Arup Associates – Philip Dowson,
Ronald Hobbs and Derek Sugden – wrote the following
about Foggo in a 1994 edition ofBuilding
Design:

"His work is marked by its clarity and directness,
which was also the nature of his character. The plans
and the sections of his buildings were always ordered
and structured, both in concept as well as practical
reality. Rigour in analysis and rationalism in practice
invested all that he did and is perhaps the hallmark
of his work".

'Space House' was bought by its current
owners (who became only the third owners of the house)
in 2002. They wanted to update and restore the house
in a sympathetic manner, as although it was in sound
structural condition, the interior was clearly dated.
Lee / Fitzgerald Architects were employed on the recommendation
of Foggo Associates to oversee the refurbishment.

Barrie Evans gave a thorough account of the renovation
of 'Space House' inThe
Architect's Journalin 2004. The article,
entitled 'Space Odyssey' claimed that the "pioneering 1960s house" had been "gently
reorganised and, dare one say it, improved by Lee /
Fitzgerald Architects".

'Space House' comprises a series of braced
steel trusses supported from eight stanchion columns,
with timber-frame walls, floors and roof slung between.
This is supplemented with large areas of plate glass.
The 'H'-shaped plan is made up of a central
service core, opening onto front and rear terraces,
with living and bedroom wings flanking on either side.
Originally black, the frame has now been painted white
which, according to Evans, "emphasises that this
is a framed house and makes it float more freely above
the ground".

Other alterations include the replacement of pine
ceilings with white plaster edged with a cedar strip
– this improves daylight penetration and gives
the interior a more spacious feel. The kitchen has been
updated and the bathrooms were re-organised. The partition
between the two central bedrooms was removed to make
one larger room. Many of the original features have
been retained, including the original neoprene gaskets
for the glazing, internal and external Western Red Cedar
panelling and the vertical timber ventilation louvres.

The house has also benefited from a replacement roof
in August 06.

The renovation and updating of 'Space House'
was the subject of a RIBA Conservation Award in 2004
in recognition of the high quality and sympathetic manner
of the work done.