Malator House by Future System is a stunning underground home in the Welsh hamlet of Druidston in Pembrokeshire county. Designed by architects Jan Kaplický and Amanda Levete( formerly Future System– a London-based architectural and design practice) for Bob Marshall-Andrews, the former Member of Parliament for Medway, and his wife, Gill Marshall-Andrews.
Built-in 1998, this house was way ahead of its time in terms of architecture and design, and in 2022, it continues to be one of Wale’s most striking residences.
The Beauty of Malator | Future Systems
The building, which was formerly an ancient army barracks situated right in the centre of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, was miraculously changed into its current form to abide by strict park regulations forbidding visible construction, landscape destruction, and wildlife disruption. Hence, unlike other residences, the Malator house is an architectural chameleon. A home so well camouflaged amongst the grassy cliffs that one can head along the coastal path and walk right past it. However, it is undoubtedly difficult to look away once it has your attention. It can be described as an earth-house. Earth house became relatively popular after the mid-1970s, especially among environmentalists. It is carved out of the hillside overlooking St. Strides Bay, providing residents with a stunning new perspective of the coastline from the comfort of their homes despite being hidden from passers-by. However, its beauty is not in its covertness but rather in its minimal invasiveness and capacity to maintain temperature. It is an excellent illustration of how modern structures can be in sync with nature.
Architecture and Interior Design
The home’s floor layout is very straightforward and uncomplicated, reflecting the way of life of its occupants and centring on the living area with its central chimney and horizon views. Malator house is a three-bedroom seaside bungalow. The majority of the house is below the ground level, with a roof that precisely mimics the hills around it, and a glass façade facing the bay– the sole indication that there is a house concealed below. Prefabricated pods partition the open-concept living area of Malator House. The clever design of the vibrant-coloured central pod allows the kitchen, laundry room, and bathroom to be conveniently located in one location while keeping the remainder of the living area open and uncluttered. The focal point of the living area is an open log fireplace surrounded by community seating. The colour palette was a part of the architect’s master plan; even when it’s gloomy outside, the yellow lifts up the interior environment. The interiors play with fantastic curves all around. The transparent glass wall, with a thin stainless steel frame, works as an extension, acting as an eye that gazes out to the ever-changing sky, sea, and wildlife.
Architectural elements and materials | Future Systems
The home’s most remarkable feature is the 12 feet high custom windows overlooking the bay. The green roof and the jaunty steel chimney enhance the façade. The home has an innocent and playful simplicity. It is constructed from a few simple components and materials, including steel, glass, and the turfed roof.
Concept
Knowing the strict rules prohibiting any form of development in the National Park, the architects faced the challenge of creating a house that would blend in with the landscape without disruption. The concept was inspired by the old, traditional building techniques used in Northern Scandinavia, where wide walls were constructed by piling up layers of soil and turf. This method binds the soil to the roots, acts as a thermal insulator, and completes the wall’s blend-in with the surrounding landscape.
Construction | Future Systems
Firstly, the site was excavated. Then, a stressed-skin plywood aerofoil roof with a membrane and turf planting was built on top of a concrete slab and retaining wall. No interior columns were necessary because the building’s steel beams supported the roof. Due to the delicate nature of the site, bringing prefabricated units and arranging them on-site was more feasible. As a result, several components were prepped and built before being brought to the site, such as the two bathroom pods designed to separate the main living space from the bedrooms. To accentuate the airy, bright area, the spray-painted wooden constructions, one of which included the kitchen, were freestanding and did not touch the ceiling.
Why Teletubbies?
The Malator House is also commonly referred to as “The Teletubbies House” because of its underground layout and vibrant colours– strikingly similar to the house of the popular British children’s TV show Teletubbies. The lively design, vivid colours, and the play of curves are eerily reminiscent of the show. Ironically, the show started in 1997, and so did the design concept for the Malator house. Although it was completed in 1998.
Earth houses and their sustainability factors
Conceptually, the first thought process was that it needed to be environmentally friendly visibly and in terms of sustainability. Underground homes are energy efficient. Since they are underground, the soil insulation and layers can help keep the temperature cool and reduce air conditioners’ use. An underground house with no levels above the ground also helps prevent natural disasters such as lightning or cyclones. An earthhouse provides better light and improves air quality, reducing air and noise pollution. The presence of natural floral and fauna helps create a natural ecological environment. And finally, due to limited visibility, it also provides better safety from intruders.
The Malator House is a practical and functional house that has evolved into more than a place to live– it is a piece of art. Although hidden from the world, the Malator House is certainly an architectural marvel.
Sources | Future Systems
Quirky Home Tours (2021). Charlie Luxton Homes by the Sea S1 E1: Pembrokeshire. [YouTube video]. Available at: https://youtu.be/gcDeHcHkEj0 [Accessed 26 December 2022].
Mosalski, R. (2017) Inside ex-labour MP’s stunning home – dubbed the ‘Teletubby house’, mirror. Available at: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/inside-ex-labour-mps-stunning-10632227
(Accessed: December 26, 2022).
Marshall-Andrews), (I.G. and Commons), (I.M.G.C. (2017) Inside one of the most amazing houses ever built in Wales, WalesOnline. Available at: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/welsh-homes/inside-house-cliff-thats-one-13183280 (Accessed: December 26, 2022).