Hodgson House by BassamFellows

Hodgson House by BassamFellows is stunningly featured in Art in Residence by Nicole England, an exploration into how art and personal collections infuse life into thoughtfully designed spaces. Through her lens, England reveals the intimate relationship between architecture and the cherished objects that shape an evocative home, including Hodgson House itself.

There is an unforgiving rigour to Hodgson House, the architectural gem by seminal American Modernist Philip Johnson. The current custodians – Craig Bassam and Scott Fellows, the founders of furniture and design house BassamFellows – have painstakingly reinvigorated the icon for modern living. The pair’s sensitivity honours the architectural vessel, which is equal parts home and living sculpture: a glimmering object that reflects the verdant green around it.

In many ways, the house itself can be considered a work of art, with a design that demands a new echelon of discipline.

The integration of their art and furniture further elevates the home’s articulate vision. Every piece is a meditation on placement and composition. A large-scale abstract painting with generous red flicks – made by a friend – is placed as the only piece on the living-room wall. The scale, colour and asymmetrical hanging are precise, creating a dynamic relationship between the artwork and the architecture. The contrast of the stark white walls and the vivid artwork allows the space to breathe, offering both simplicity and depth.

In many ways, the house itself can be considered a work of art, with a design that demands a new echelon of discipline. “We’ve always lived with as few things as possible,” says Scott, acknowledging how the house has made them even more discerning. “It pushes us to strip back and remove anything unnecessary.” Their collection of furniture reflects this ethos, blending vintage Saarinen chairs with some of their original BassamFellows prototypes. And in a case of art imitating life, the Mantis chairs were, in fact, inspired by this very house.

There exists a tension between the inside and out – a rigorous structure enveloped in the softness of its environment – which creates an experience that is both calming and visceral.

Craig ensured everything was “planned to the millimetre”, but with this in mind, it doesn’t feel sterile. On the contrary, the home is filled with high-touch and deeply warm materials: furniture in aniline leather, rich walnuts and textural wools, imbuing the whole with a sense of cosy luxury. “It may be spare, but it’s extremely comfortable,” Scott emphasises, describing the generous, tactile quality of the interior.

From within the perfectly aligned angles, there is a continuous sense of openness and connection to nature. “It’s as if the outside comes inside,” Craig remarks, noting the massive glass walls that offer views of the property from every aspect. There exists a tension between the inside and out – a rigorous structure enveloped in the softness of its environment – which creates an experience that is both calming and visceral. To contrast with the linearity of the building, an amorphic figurative sculpture, Nina by Anthony Gennarelli, sits perched in the middle of the courtyard. Though a recent acquisition, it resonates as if it has always belonged in this exact spot. A stack of pink BassamFellows trays in the hallway beyond are an important signature of the studio. “We like showing them as totems – a kind of functional art piece,” Craig says.

For Scott and Craig, this house is a living museum, a space that merges past and present while offering a glimpse into its future existence.

Architecture by Philip Johnson. Restoration by BassamFellows.

Art in Residence by Nicole England is published by Hardie Grant London. RRP $70.