Khadambi Asalaches Terrace

The splendidly decorated terraced house of Kenyan poet.

Location: 575 Wandsworth Road, Lambeth, SW8 3JD

Description: The incredible carved interiors of this tidy terraced house was acquired by the National Trust in 2010 because of the fine details left by it's former owner. Kenyan poet Khadambi Asalache (1935-2006), was also a novelist, mathematician and British civil servant.

He bought this house in 1981 while working at the Treasury, and over the next 25 years turned it into a work of art. He started with the all-too-familiar need to disguise persistent damp; so he fixed pine floorboards to the damp wall.

With this revelation he went on to embellish almost every wall, ceiling and door in the house with exquisitely carved fretwork patterns and motifs, all hand-carved from reclaimed pine doors and floorboards found in skips.

The house has been preserved as it as left and can be visited via appointment only - the National Trust allow on 2000 visitors a year and you must bring socks or slippers as shoes aren't allowed!

Themes: Art Art Theme