Posted on 05/15/2007 2:12:08 PM PDT by NYer
Asked to design a fitting repository for a client’s valuable collection of J.R.R. Tolkien manuscripts and artifacts, architect Peter Archer went to the source—the fantasy novels that describe the abodes of the diminutive Hobbits.
“I came back my client and said, ‘I’m not going to make this look like Hollywood,’” Archer recalled, choosing to focus instead on a finely-crafted structure embodying a sense of history and tradition.
The site was critical too—and Archer found the perfect one a short walk away from his client’s main house, where an 18th-century dry-laid wall ran through the property. “I thought, wouldn’t it be wonderful to build the structure into the wall?”
Not only did the wall anchor the cottage, but stones from another section were used in the cottages construction. “It literally grew out of the site,” Archer said.
Perhaps stranger things have happened in Tolkien’s world, but few houses in this one go to such lengths to capture a fictional fantasy in the context of architecture. Here are some details.
Inside the cottage, a bench seat rests below the “butterfly” window, so called because its center-hinged panes take on the appearance of the insect’s wings when open. The divided-light look is created with gridwork affixed to both sides of the insulated glass.
Like the butterfly window, the cottage’s round 3-inch-thick front door is made of Spanish cedar by cabinetmaker David Thorngate of Newark, Del. Though the round door is used as an entryway, a more conventionally shaped (and discreetly concealed) 3-ft. x 7-ft. door in the back of the cottage conforms to code and, Archer concedes, makes it easier to get in and out. To the right of the round door, an electrical outlet is disguised under a metal box.
wonder what the overall cost was to build it.
I could easily live in that house. Just needs a few more throw pillows and cushions — soften up the inside.
Can’t imagine how hard it would be to find furniture to go with it.
That door alone must cost over $1000 ....
So could I...in a heartbeat.
Hobbits prefer holes to houses.
I have subscribed to Fine Homebuilding since Issue No. One . . . they're up in the 180s now. They concentrate on one-off custom homes, some rehabs of historical structures, some solar, no-chem, sod, timber-framed, and other unusual designs. With the exception of a few features on rehabbing ranch houses and the like, their stuff is very, very high end.
And the inside is stripped so you can see the architectural features. I'm sure it's fitted up with cushions and throws already.
$1,000 wouldn't pay for the wood.
It’s a hobbit house, not a hobbit hole.
Frodo did move into a house in Bree as a ruse for his escape.
Tolkien said that holes had become dwellings for either the very rich or the very poor, while houses had become more popular in general.
All said, it’s a beautiful house.
“Frodo did move into a house in Bree as a ruse for his escape.”
Oops. Make that “Buckland”.
It’s beautiful.
That’s a work of art.
How cool is that?!
In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit.
Seeing a $10,000+ door being special ordered is not too unusual at the Lowe’s store where I work.
I don’t know, I’d get tired of bending over to avoid hitting my head.
That’s cool
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