A landmark of British modernism hits the market in South London

Set back from a quiet residential road in Dulwich Wood, Six Pillars occupies a singular place in Britain’s modernist canon. Designed between 1932 and 1934 by Valentine Harding for Tecton, the Grade II*-listed house is defined by its planar white façade, ribbons of clerestory glazing and the six cylindrical columns that give the building its name. It was commissioned for John Leakey, then headmaster of Dulwich College Preparatory School, and remains closely tied to the social and architectural ambitions of the period. It’s listed for sale with The Modern House for £3.275m.

A glazed entrance door, set on an angle, leads into a double-height hall where the original chevron parquet flooring and sculptural staircase remain intact. Living spaces are arranged laterally on a subtly angled plan, allowing daylight to shift across the interior throughout the day. The principal reception room sits to one side, framed by a long bay of steel windows overlooking the gardens and anchored by the original art deco fireplace.

The kitchen and dining room extend to around 500sqft, fitted with bespoke plywood joinery, stainless-steel worktops and a central island, supported by a pantry and utility room. A former garage has been converted into a one-bedroom annex by Smith Brooke Architects, with poured concrete floors, extensive glazing and its own entrance.

Four bedrooms and two bathrooms occupy the first floor, many opening onto a continuous balcony, while a further bedroom suite sits above with access to a roof terrace. The house was restored in 2000 under John Winter, with later extensions increasing the internal area to over 3,500sqft. Landscaped gardens by Marc O’Neill surround the house, placing the architecture within a carefully managed green setting in London SE26.