Homing In

Matt Gibberd and The Modern House
Homing In

What does home reveal about who we are? Almost everything, it turns out. Join The Modern House co-founder and author Matt Gibberd as he talks to cultural and creative leaders about the most influential space in our lives: home. In each episode, we ask guests to talk about a home of their past; their current living space; and where they would like to end up – revealing what home means to some of our most inspiring public figures. Be prepared for tears, laughter and everything in between.  "The Best Podcasts To Listen To Now" – Vogue  Homing In is produced by The Modern House, with music by Father. The Modern House is an estate agency that helps people live in more thoughtful and beautiful ways. If you have a modern home to sell, get in touch to find out how we can maximise its value. To hear more from us: Sign up to our newsletter for weekly interior inspiration Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow us on Instagram To get in touch, email us at podcast@themodernhouse.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Tim Ross: the Australian comedian on the life-changing effect of modest, modernist buildings – and tinted moisturiser

    JUN 21

    Tim Ross: the Australian comedian on the life-changing effect of modest, modernist buildings – and tinted moisturiser

    A while back, Tim came to London to perform at the Isokon building in Belsize Park, and I managed to catch up with him to record this podcast.   As a small boy in the Seventies, Tim quietly absorbed the lessons of modernist architecture. He remembers accompanying his parents to a dinner party at a modern house, where the sound of laughter reverberated around the circular lounge; his career seems to have been about trying to recapture that heady moment.  In 2003, he bought his own modernist house in Sydney, a move which, he says, ‘changed my life for the better’. His fascination with architecture and design had previously been a solitary pursuit, but the house provided a way to meet like-minded people and a launchpad for his TV career.  Tim is really great company, and we talk about all sorts of things. He explains how he’s an outlier in his family, and what it felt like to perform on stage for the first time.   He tells me about the day the Beastie Boys came to visit and wouldn’t leave, why he’d rather learn to be a builder than go through the stress of another renovation project, and why he swears by the uplifting effects of tinted moisturiser. This episode was recorded in person in Brick Lane, London. For more:  Visit The Modern House website to see images of the spaces discussed in this episode Discover more about Tim Ross and his live shows See more of his Sydney home Producer: Hannah Phillips Editing: Oscar Crawford Graphic Design: Tom Young and Ben Tucker Music: Father Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 13m
  2. Philippe Malouin: the experimental designer on creating with integrity – and the art of upcycling

    APR 11

    Philippe Malouin: the experimental designer on creating with integrity – and the art of upcycling

    Philippe designs everything from furniture to lighting, combining modern geometry with a sense of humour and materials that are built to last. I first met him many years ago, when he was doing some work with my wife, Faye Toogood. We’d turned our bedroom into a makeshift design studio, and Philippe and a few others would come round to make maquettes and geek out about ergonomics.  Nowadays, he’s a burly, bearded bear of a man with an extra 20kg of muscle, but his wit and warmth are the same as I remember. He tells me about what it was like to grow up beside a lake in Canada. From the age of seven, he would take himself off in his boat for the whole day, catching fish and swimming off the islands.  This independent, practical spirit has continued into adult life. He largely works on his own, because that’s how he likes it. His studio in Hackney, where we met to record this conversation, is the epicentre of his creative output – a place where he can build something, obsess over which type of screw he’s going to use, or just sit and daydream. He tells me what it’s like to create a home from stuff that others have thrown away, how he saved up to buy his favourite sofa and kept it wrapped in plastic for two years, and why space is the ultimate luxury. This episode was recorded in person, at Philippe Malouin’s studio in East London. For more:  Visit The Modern House website to see images of the spaces discussed in this episode Check out Philippe Malouin’s latest work Producer: Hannah Phillips Editing: Oscar Crawford Graphic Design: Tom Young Music: Father Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 2m
  3. Sumayya Vally: the South African architect on how growing up in a township defined her sense of place

    MAR 28

    Sumayya Vally: the South African architect on how growing up in a township defined her sense of place

    Today I’m talking to the wonderful Sumayya Vally, founder of the architecture and research practice Counterspace. When in 2020 Sumayya designed the Serpentine pavilion, she joined the ranks of luminaries including Zaha Hadid, Peter Zumthor and Frank Gehry. In 2021, Time Magazine named her one of the ‘100 Leaders of the Future’ and, more recently, she was artistic director of the inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale in Saudi Arabia. What really shines through in this conversation is Sumayya’s interest in the notion of home as it relates to place. She was born in an Indian township in Pretoria, just after Nelson Mandela was released from prison, and she cites the city of Johannesburg as her biggest inspiration. When she arrived in London, she became interested in the gathering spaces where settlers from other countries and communities have established themselves: churches, synagogues, marketplaces, female community centres, black-music venues and so on. ‘Home is not a physical place,’ she says. ‘It’s a sensibility and a feeling.’ The name ‘Sumayya’ means ‘to rise to the occasion’, and she tells me how she’s an outlier in her family and how her parents made sacrifices to provide her with an education. Very occasionally in life, you meet someone who has an inner light that seems to shine more brightly than other people’s. For me, Sumayya has that. She’s incredibly composed, articulate and wise beyond her years and I’m full of admiration for the work she’s doing to bring disparate cultures together. This episode was recorded in person in London. For more: Visit The Modern House website to see images of the spaces discussed in this episode. Check out Counterspace. Producer: Hannah Phillips Editing: Oscar Crawford Graphic Design: Tom Young Music: Father Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    52 min
  4. Tim Little: the owner of Grenson footwear on his journey from Adidas ad man to sole trader

    MAR 15

    Tim Little: the owner of Grenson footwear on his journey from Adidas ad man to sole trader

    At the time of recording, Tim was knee-deep in building works at home, so I polished up my Chelsea boots for a visit to his London studio.  As always, I asked him to describe his life story through the lens of the homes he’s lived in over the years. It was particularly interesting to find out more about his current home, which he bought after seeing it on our website and falling instantly in love. It’s a mid-century masterpiece set in splendid isolation near Rye, in East Sussex.  A celebration of craftsmanship comes through in everything that Tim is about.  His father was a textile manufacturer, and he’s inherited a fascination with how things are made and the excitement of seeing something take shape on the factory floor. He tells me about his background in advertising, when he was given the most thrilling brief of all time: ‘Make Adidas cool again’. Having been given the keys to one of the world’s most established brands, he was inspired to start his eponymous footwear company and ultimately take over Grenson. Tim is a lovely guy – very humble and grounded – and I really enjoyed getting to know him through the course of this conversation. This episode was recorded in person at the Grenson Studio in Chelsea. For more: Visit The Modern House website to see images of the spaces discussed in this episode. Check out Grenson. Production: Hannah Phillips Editing: Oscar Crawford Graphic Design: Tom Young Music: Father This episode was sponsored by Vitsoe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min
4.8
out of 5
67 Ratings

About

What does home reveal about who we are? Almost everything, it turns out. Join The Modern House co-founder and author Matt Gibberd as he talks to cultural and creative leaders about the most influential space in our lives: home. In each episode, we ask guests to talk about a home of their past; their current living space; and where they would like to end up – revealing what home means to some of our most inspiring public figures. Be prepared for tears, laughter and everything in between.  "The Best Podcasts To Listen To Now" – Vogue  Homing In is produced by The Modern House, with music by Father. The Modern House is an estate agency that helps people live in more thoughtful and beautiful ways. If you have a modern home to sell, get in touch to find out how we can maximise its value. To hear more from us: Sign up to our newsletter for weekly interior inspiration Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow us on Instagram To get in touch, email us at podcast@themodernhouse.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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