Phin Harper: How a Breakup Helped Me Find Home

Architecture critic and writer Phineas Harper believes that good design and heritage belong to all of us.

Phin lives on Vanbrugh Park, a post-war council estate in Greenwich designed by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, the architects behind the Barbican. It's a home that completely reflects Phin’s ethos: architecture doesn’t have to be fancy to enrich our lives.

Phin is deeply woven into the fabric of the neighbourhood. Together with their neighbours, they've transformed neglected corners of the estate into gardens and trained vines up the old washing posts. Every March, they all come together for a celebration called "Unlocking", where they plant a tree and share some of Phin's homemade rhubarb ice cream.

In this conversation, Phin reflects on growing up on a generic new-build estate, what it felt like to be an outsider and why they've become so passionate about repair.

Phin also reflects on the end of their long-term relationship, and how that experience transformed their understanding of what home really means.

This episode was filmed inside Phin Harper’s Greenwich Estate Flat.

Join us over on Patreon to watch the full home tour.
Patreon: http://patreon.com/HomingWithMatt

More from Phin:

Phineas Harper is a roving reporter for The Modern Houseand Inigo. Each month, they share a digital "postcard" that celebrates the "friendly, playful, warm, cosy, squishy and joyful" side of architecture.

Follow Phin's escapades at https://www.youtube.com/@themodernhouse_films.

To hear more from us:

Patreon: Watch exclusive home tours, https://www.patreon.com/HomingWithMatt
YouTube: Subscribe to our channel, Homing with Matt
Instagram: Follow for updates and announcements, @homingwithmatt
Contact: Email us at [email protected]

Matt Gibberd’s book, A Modern Way to Live, is available here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/320176/a-modern-way-to-live-by-gibberd-matt/9780241480496

Music by @simeonwalkermusic
Identity & design by @lena.winkler.creative.office
Produced by @podshoponline