Interview
Tin House does what it says on the tin: it’s a home made from metal. Comprising six pyramid-shaped pavilions clad in a warm russet hue, each one is arranged in a courtyard built around a swimming pool. The vision of architect Henning Stummel, this extraordinary space in Shepherd’s Bush, West London marries smart design with sustainable credentials.
Though it’s racked up numerous accolades, including a RIBA London award and being named House of the Year by Architects Journal, we’ve crowned it with an unofficial title; the most orange house in the capital.
The uplifting colour greets you the moment you arrive and crouch down to enter through a small door that feels straight from the pages of Alice in Wonderland. The shade filters into the tin cladding, interiors, furniture and even the kitchen utensils.
In London you can feel anonymous, but a good conversation with someone is like nourishment, a form of human connection.
Located in a former scrap yard, each pyramidal structure differs in dimension and has self-contained features like a toilet and kitchenette, making them ideal for guests. The largest pavilion is Henning’s home which has a spacious kitchen, dining area, lounge, bedroom, office and utility room. Though a pyramid-shaped home may seem unconventional, the design features inside them are minimalist and functional. Discreet doors lead to hidden toilets and storage areas, alleviating distraction and evoking a sense of peace and tranquillity.
On one hand, Tin House feels like a quiet oasis in a busy city, and on the other, it’s the perfect place for socialising. Henning and his wife Alice are avid hosts. Every September they open their doors to the public during the Open House Festival, inviting guests to experience their wonderful world. From time to time, Henning also opens up Tin House for guests to stay on Airbnb which aligns with their passion for hospitality. We chatted to Henning about the joy of sharing his home.
Well, metal is just one part of it. The property is clad in metal sheets. Some buildings have a brick facade giving the impression of a brick house, for us, we chose a metal exterior. Underneath there’s a timber frame and lots of insulation to make the walls thick. Initially, we had planning permission to build a bungalow in the centre. But our plans changed once we started work. We reversed the bungalow concept and split it into several pavilions positioned along the perimeter and kept the centre free.
It’s become a routine for us. We open on one Saturday in the festival for three hours in the morning. I bring in my daughters and volunteers to help and we take guests inside in small groups. Typically, we have around 300 visitors. We’ve had people from the neighbourhood intrigued by our orange gate, wondering what’s behind it and visitors from Australia.
After my oldest daughter left home for college her room became empty. Inviting people to stay felt like a natural step and also a mini adventure. As a host it’s fun to give local restaurant recommendations and suggestions. For visitors it’s such a great way to see London, it’s so much more special than staying in a hotel. Most of our guests are interested in good architecture, design and film too.
The whole house is like a giant sundial. From 9am–1pm the swimming pool in the courtyard catches the light and reflects it inside the house. Later around lunchtime and early morning, you get these wibbly wobbly patterns moving around the ceiling of the kitchen and dining room creating a space that feels calming and tranquil. I think space impacts on mental health, so creating the right environment where you can relax and feel calm is important.
All the cladding on the exterior is iron oxide which is a natural orange colour, similar to the orange you get when something rusts. When we first started looking at colours we considered copper and zinc. In Sweden and Norway it’s common for homes to be painted in iron oxide as it’s a natural insecticide and it gives them a distinct aesthetic.
Being a visitor to someone else’s house broadens your mind, like travelling.
We minimise waste and that ethos comes into the furniture. I designed the living room chairs using one sheet of plywood. The tin aspect of Tin House was also carefully considered. The orange iron oxide facades are a sustainable steel called GreenCoat PLX Pro BT. The fossil fuels to make it are replaced with rapeseed oil, which reduces its environmental footprint. We’ve also made the building air-tight and energy-efficient.
Really easy! You upload your listing like a template, all you need to do is fill in the different sections with your details. Luckily there are so many listings already there to inspire you so you can see what type of photos work and the types of things potential guests would like to know before booking. AirCover is great. Particularly for new hosts as it offers reassurance like guests having their identity verified before they stay with you and damage protection. Our guests have all been civilised and respectful, but it’s good that Airbnb has devised a way of safeguarding the interests of hosts.
We’ve always found it so rewarding. During the Festival the vast majority of people that come are complimentary and positive and it’s a great way to meet your neighbours. I definitely know more of my neighbours because of it. In London, you can feel anonymous, but a good conversation with someone is like nourishment, a form of human connection. We often do a tour of the property for our guests and sometimes we eat dinner together too — but how involved you get with your guests is up to you. The flexibility is part of what makes Airbnb so appealing.
Photography: Anthony Lycett
Hosting on Airbnb is simple and flexible. You can host once a year, a few nights a month — whatever suits you and your lifestyle. Whether you have a spare room or an entire home, Airbnb has you covered. With AirCover, hosts receive top-to-bottom protection and liability insurance.
Airbnb Setup makes it easy to list your place, providing hands-on help from a Superhost from your first question to your first guest. Hosts also have access to Community Support agents who can assist with account issues, payments, and other concerns you may have.
Interested in hosting? Find out how on Airbnb.
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