When William B. Curry was offered the role of headmaster at the newly created Dartington Hall School in 1926, he suggested William Lescaze as the architect to design the new headmaster’s residence. Lescaze and Curry had previously worked together and shared a passion for architectural and educational experimentation in America.
However, many people were outraged by the modernist design at the time, and dismissed it contemptuously as a typical aberration of the whole Dartington experiment. International Style buildings were extremely rare at the time and High Cross House was one of the most ‘modern’ in Europe. However, as well as appearing in Country Life, in April 1934 the building was selected to represent the latest development of domestic architecture in Architectural Review’s ‘Progress of Architecture in England for the Twentieth Century.’ In May 1934 it was the front cover story of Design for To-Day.
High Cross House stands as a testament to William Curry’s belief in a modern society and to the Elmhirsts’ readiness to be experimental.
Image copyright Totnes Image Bank