Herne Hill Art Deco house listed

Image: Steve Cadman/Creative Commons

A five-bedroom Art Deco house in Herne Hill has ben listed by Historic England.

The property at 10 Dorchester Drive is one of just two houses constructed to a design that won an award at the 1934 Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition.

It was sold for the first time in more than 50 years in February. The Twentieth Century Society feared that it might be demolished and asked Historic England to list it.

The society also sought a building preservation notice (BPN) from Lambeth council while Historic England was considering the request.

The house’s architects were Leslie H Kemp and Frederick E Tasker, who also designed Art Deco cinemas.

Historic England describes it as a “well-preserved and relatively early example of a modernistic house marketed towards adventurous clients”.

A spokesperson said: “This is a remarkable survival which transports us back to the architectural ideals of the 1930s where ‘dignified simplicity’ was favoured over excessive ornamentation.

“The significance of this building has now been recognised and any future change can be managed effectively, so that it can function as a modern home and retain its special character.”

Dorchester Drive has two other Grade II-listed buildings: Dorchester Court and Dorchester House, which were also designed by Kemp and Tasker.

The only other version of the house is at 77 Addington Road in Bromley.