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"The house retains outstanding mid-century features; a wood-panelled ceiling, hardwood parquet flooring and glazing arranged in a characterful composition."
This incredibly well-preserved five-bedroom house is positioned on Sunnyfield, a quiet cul-de-sac on The Ryde in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Designed in 1965 by the celebrated post-war British architect Sir Andrew Derbyshire, the house has only ever been occupied by the architect and his family and consequently retains outstanding mid-century features and many cleverly conceived design details.
Sunnyfield
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History
Image Credit: RIBApix
Sir Andrew Derbyshire was knighted for his services to architecture in 1986, following an illustrious career with RMJM & Partners, a practice well known for its modernist, functional style, founded by Robert Matthew and Stirrat Johnson-Marshall in 1956.
Born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire trained initially as a physicist and later at the postwar Architectural Association. In his early architectural career, he worked primarily in the public sector as schools architect for the West Riding of Yorkshire and deputy city architect for Sheffield.
Derbyshire was known for his astute intellect, sharp wit and liberal approach to both life and design. His progressive ideas were pivotal in the success of RMJM’s design of Central Hall, York University’s landmark post-war building (below). The construction is often considered a classic expression of 1960’s optimism and precursor to contemporary university planning in the UK. Derbyshire remained firmly faithfully to RMJM until his retirement in 1998. He lived a happy fifty years in Hatfield with his family and wife, Lady Lily Derbyshire.
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