Straightforward Architecture and Simple Furnishings

Join Daniel Stilwell for an engaging talk on the domestic architecture of Barry Parker, co-founder of the Parker and Unwin Partnership. While the Partnership is widely known for its pioneering town planning, this event places Parker firmly in the spotlight as an architect first and foremost.

This talk accompanies our current exhibition, Barry Parker: Art of Building a Home, offering deeper insight into the ideas and buildings explored in the gallery.

We’ll look at Parker’s domestic work as clear, thoughtful and refined. From carefully composed groups of cottages to individual family homes, you’ll discover how his approach evolved and matured across his career. Drawing on key essays from The Art of Building a Home and articles from The Craftsman Magazine, the session highlights Parker’s design philosophy and his belief in creating houses that were both practical and beautiful.

A special focus will be given to 102 Wilbury Road in Letchworth Garden City, designed in 1908 for Parker’s brother Stanley and his wife Signe. Through a close study of the house, we’ll explore Parker’s attention to construction, his use of the inglenook, and the furniture he designed to create a warm and cohesive interior.

The talk concludes with an exploration of paintings by Camden Town artist William Ratcliffe, including The Red Curtain and The Artist’s Room. Painted while staying with the Parker family, these works offer a vivid glimpse inside 102 Wilbury Road, capturing the textures, colours and lived-in atmosphere of the home — and revealing Parker’s architecture in a vibrant new light.

Perfect for anyone interested in Arts and Crafts architecture, early 20th-century design, and the art of creating a beautiful home.

Daniel Stilwell is an architect and architectural historian at Charles Holland Architects. He designs and writes on the history of British domestic architecture and comfort alongside a developing specialism on the British Arts & Crafts movement.