Sir John Soane's House

Sir John Soane's house, now a museum, an amazing and totally unique experience for anyone visiting London.

John Soane was an architect in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He had a very humble beginning being apprenticed to his father, a bricklayer, however, he married into money which allowed him to travel through Europe and study architecture. Through his own effort he became very successful as both an architect and property developer. His house became home to a collection of architectural objects collected from demolition spoils acquired during building renovations along with Greek, Roman and Egyptian artifacts and artwork purchased at auctions.

John Soane ultimately became a lecturer in architecture at the time of the Napoleonic Wars when travel became impossible in Europe. As a result, his house became an educational reference centre for his architecture students denied the “Grand Tour” of Europe, which up to that time, was a vital part of acquiring an education in architectural style and building construction.

The photo shows the manner in which artifacts are arranged to be viewed and studied, extending from the basement to the ceiling skylight in many open spaces within the house.

His designs played around with shapes and one of his innovations was fitting a spherical ceiling into a square room which gave a circular arch on each wall. This feature is found in abundance in modern London. The shape being the model for the roof of famous red public telephone box.