Simon Devitt

Mostly full page photographs, this beautiful book showcases the architectural dream of Ian Athfield's lifelong building project in Wellington, Amritsar, aka, Athfield House. Photographer Simon Devitt moves aside and lets the building take center stage, letting old pictures of the people and lives that made this house sing, sit alongside his own arty shots of the architectural behemoth.

This building spills down a hillside, is comprised of umpteen rooms, levels, turrets, rooftop spaces, portal window and skylights, and seems to have been a work in progress for 3 decades (at least). The act of building the thing faced much opposition from neighbours and council regulations and appears to have been an act of architectural rebellion, if not a simple act of following a vision. The letters and recipes included as text flesh out the human side of the building's existence. The dwelling acted as HQ for an architecture business, and also housed a family as well as being a social hub.

This coffee table gem would improve any house. It is beautiful from cover to cover and would be lovely to dip into from time to time- if you are one of the lucky ones to get a copy of this limited edition publication to own.… (plus d'informations)