AHEAD OF ITS TIME
DESPITE looking incredibly futuristic, this custom-built house is approaching its 20th birthday. If it had been built in 2017, you’d say it was way ahead of its time. But it was actually built in 1998 and is still one of Wales’ most eye-catching homes.
Called Malator, it’s made from steel and glass, is set into the Pembrokeshire coastline and looks out over St Bride’s Bay.
The home was designed by, and is still privately owned by, former MP and barrister Bob Marshall-Andrews and his wife Gill.
The earth house has a turf roof and exterior glass wall that looks out to sea. The unusual characteristics have led to it being known as the “Teletubby house”, a nickname that left its owner “extremely happy”.
Passing children do go to the house expecting to see Tinky-Winky and Co but face “considerable disappointment” when they discover they do not live there eating custard.
Mr Marshall-Andrews says the design came from an idea from his son, Tom, then in his 20s.
“It was very much a sketch and it was what we all wanted. He drew a sketch which was a circular or oblong home which was set into the topography,” he said.
Architect firm Future Systems – responsible for the media box at Lord’s cricket ground and Selfridges in Birmingham – took over the design and brought it to life.
Headed by the late Jan Kaplicky and wife Amanda Levete, the company was renowned for modern, forward-thinking builds.
Being “ecologically friendly” was their starting point. “It’s an eye in the landscape, looking out to sea,” says its owner.
Jan told him that the building was modelled on the “underside of an air- craft wing”. Building it took a year.
Inside, the three-bedroom home is open plan – with the exception of brightly coloured pods which contain the bathrooms, brought in complete and slotted into place.
The home is designed around a central fireplace. The whole building is curved and full of bright colours.
From a distance, the bespoke 12ft windows are the only giveaway the house is there. When there is wild weather outside those windows can move “up to an inch”.
The weather can make being in the house a very different experience.
“It can be testing. You can get 90mph onshore gales, in which case it’s completely different but is dramatic,” said Bob.
There was already a property on the site which was “in pretty bad nick”.
During the design process, discussions with planners meant some changes to the design, as the land is part of the national park.
“I think the planners have been very pleased with it. The old house was definitely not a thing of beauty. It was a wooden shack,” said Bob.
“People look down from the road and from the public footpath. So yes, it attracts attention but it’s all – or most of it – benign.”
As the house approaches its 20th year, the way it has remained timeless has surprised Bob.
“I hope it will still look modern in over 100 years,” he said. “It’s worn very well. I get a wonderful feeling when I go down there. It does exactly what the architect intended it to do – the view is even better from inside than outside.
“Any time I am here, I look at it and think how incredibly lucky I am to be able to come here.”