Red House – Architectural Models in Context

Institution:

Victoria and Albert Museum

Institutional Internal Reference Code:

CD.34-2017

Title:

Architectural model of the Red House, Chelsea, London, by Tony Fretton, c. 1997.

Date of creation:

c. 1997

Extent and basic medium:

1 model

Name of creator(s):

Tony Fretton

Administrative / contextual / biographical history:

Located on a street in London’s Chelsea area famous for its late-nineteenth century houses and studios inhabited by the likes of Oscar Wilde, Whistler and John Singer Sargent, the Red House is a striking modern addition. Taking its name from its red marble façade – in keeping with the bright red brick of most of the houses in the street – the Red House is Tony Fretton’s most critically acclaimed London building.

The front elevation has a slightly protruding ground level, with centrally place double garage doors, and is mounted by a shallow but high bay window that affords a view down the street to the River Thames. There are very substantial living quarters, with a staff apartment, several lounges and sitting rooms, a study, a great staircase, a garden and a roof terrace with a hot house and hot tub.

This model is typical of the quick in-house study models, made of card and cheap materials, that Tony Fretton produces in his office.

Conditions governing access:

In storage

Conditions governing reproduction:

Materials, physical characteristics and technical requirements:

Card (paper), plywood and plastic. Length: 327 mm, Width: 570 mm, Height: 370 mm.

Finding aids available:

V&A Search the Collections catalogue – http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1377923/architectural-model/

Subjects (Getty Art & Arch Thesaurus):

Architecture; model-making, models (representations); photography

Locations:

Chelsea, London

Names:

Tony Fretton