Iceberg, right below!

Chances are, if you have a cellar, that it's used for storage; wine perhaps, or no longer used toys. It's probably got a damp problem. Few of us are lucky enough to have one of these at the bottom of the stairs.

The current fashion for building downwards, so called iceberg houses (more below ground than above), has created huge creative opportunities for architects such as TP Bennett. The textured stone walls give the impression of the pool being dug from London's bedrock.

Alongside the pool and jacuzzi, are the mosaic tiled steam room, shower and WC.

Mood Indigo

Asking how long it takes to photograph a house, is a bit like asking 'how long is a piece of string?' Is a single wide angle shot of each room all that's required? Or does everything down to joinery details and fabrics need to be recorded? For some clients it's important to capture a space in different lighting conditions, to show different moods, which will naturally extend the time spent on a shoot. Anyway, it's rare that I spend more than 2 days covering one house, so to spend 4 days on one project is exceptional. But then this Holland Park house designed by Studio Indigo, is just that: exceptional. The house is arranged on 5 floors, 2 of them below ground floor level, and in addition there is a dining and guest pavillion in the garden, so it would be a shame to squash them all into one post. For now, we'll concentrate on the subterranean level, which, save for a sliver of glazed ceiling above the spectacular indoor swimming pool, has no natural light, giving the designers lots of opportunity for mood creation. 

After a dip in the pool, there is the option of either the steam room or sauna...

As lovely as the spa facilities are, my luxury of choice would be the home cinema. Let the credits roll.

INTERMISSION 

Happy Families

If you ever take the train into Victoria, you may have noticed the large apartment blocks that have sprung up between the station and the river. Two of the buildings, by Make Architects, have distinctive metallic cladding imprinted with tree shapes. While one side has the misfortune of facing the railway lines, the other fronts onto a little known dock off the Thames, and is part of an attractive development called Grosvenor Waterside.

The ground floor of this particular block has a very colourful tenant called Purple Dragon, an exclusive private members' club, for kids. It's nothing less than a fun factory, complete with a well stocked playroom, known as the Imaginarium, a music room, an indoor adventure playground, a children's kitchen, a swimming pool and an art & crafts room. It's a place where kids can both learn and play in a stunning environment designed by the team at Keen & Able. But what makes this more than a glorified creche or nursery, is that it caters for the parents too, with its sophisticated design, and additional facilities including a rather smart licensed restaurant, a very inviting lounge, stocked with a library of books supplied by Taschen, and even an indoor golf simulator.

I'm sure the kids love it here, but with facilities like this, I'm sure most of the parents are only too happy to be members.