As a cliff hanging house wins the Loves vote, AnOther muses on the real meaning of living dangerously
Living dangerously is a 21st century imperative. Every day, from all sides, we are called to arm ourselves against complacency, either by taking up a limb-endangering sport, making a severe sartorial reassessment or performing a ludicrous act of romantic courage. However, it’s not often suggested that it's aspirational to live full time on the very parameters of safety. Surely one’s home should be a castle of security, not an arrow-shaped glass structure precariously slung off the rocky face of an Australian cliff, attached only by a trio of slender metal brackets. Yes, the view will be great – but what about storms? However, AnOther’s Lovers apparently laugh in the face of danger, and the Cliff House designed by Modscape has won the vote for AnOther’s assistant editor Tish Wrigley.
"Surely one’s home should be a castle of security, not an arrow-shaped glass structure slung off the face of a cliff"
However, a key thing to remember with this house is that it’s not yet built. It’s all concept, no reality – the work of an artful Photoshop technician rather than glass and gravity defying steel structures. But such is the architect’s lot, so often creating marvellous confections of inspiration and scope that may never see the cement mixer; instead dying a slow death under the weight of financial impossibilities, bureaucracy or ever-changing fashions. No architect, no matter how famous or revered, is immune to this reality – the likes of Frank Gehry, Rem Koolhaas, Zaha Hadid, Oscar Niemeyer and Antonio Gaudí have all seen magisterial designs remain just blueprints, and of the 1,000 designs created by the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright, only 532 were completed. So the Cliff House is still just a glint in the architect’s eye, but while we keep our fingers crossed that it comes to fruition, we ask Wrigley what inspired her cliff hanging choice alongside a gallery of our favourite houses, both hypothetical and real.
Why did you choose to love it?
I love a cliff hanger.
Where would be your dream location were you to own it?
Portmeirion – I've just come back from Festival No. 6 and am fully besotted with Wales.
How would you decorate it?
Minimalism and mirrors, plus a Turner picture over the mantlepiece – I'd just want to revel in the reflections of the sea.
It's in quite a hairy position – you'd have to have some guts to live there. What's the most daring thing you've ever done?
This question has caused some serious soul searching as I've realised I've been entirely risk averse in my life so far. Next year will have to be full of dangerous things to make up for it.
What's your favourite glass moment in popular culture?
I've always wanted to go to a Greek wedding and smash all the glasses.
Open House 2014 happens next weekend. Whose house would you most like free reign to explore?
Cher Horowitz's mansion and the Florentine pension in A Room With A View.
What are you most looking forward to about Autumn?
Roll necks and weekends in Yorkshire.
