At the age of 22, Vincent Van Gogh lived at 87 Hackford Road in London back in August 1873 and although he only took residence here for one year, the home has left a lasting legacy that the current owners seek to celebrate today.

The home underwent a meticulous conservation project, bringing Van Gogh’s house back to life. This enabled the curation of a dynamic program of events anchored in the artist’s practice and local heritage. As well as these guided tours and events, Van Gogh’s House hosts an artist residency program in tandem with its nearby sister institution the San Mei Gallery.

Van Gogh’s House is a Georgian terrace, carefully conserved over the past six years with great sensitivity under the watchful eye of Cambridge University and Royal College of Art graduate Livia Wang. Wang worked with Andrew Shepherd Architects and Triskele Conservation, an artisan building contractor specialising in heritage conservation, for the home’s construction and repair. They managed to give a new life to the house that had narrowly avoided bombing during the Blitz.

The conservation team used a range of techniques for the repairs, using original materials, traditional techniques and employing the finest craftsman. The team found it important to intervene at a minimum to ensure the stories hidden within the house's walls remained while ensuring these will survive another 200 years.

The interiors of the house have been finished using sensitive colours and bespoke furniture to create a contemporary house that still reflects its past. An extension has been added to the rear of the house to create a new kitchen. The new artist’s studio has been built at the back of the newly landscaped garden. It was pivotal that the new additions complemented the house’s Victorian history and the original palette of clay, lime plaster and timber.

This was achieved using Staffordshire clay quarry bricks sourced from Ketley Brick was key to the design of the modern extensions. If you admire Van Gogh’s style of home and wish to explore using these bricks in your next project, please contact our team at LOHAS Australia for more information.