The real-life GINGERBREAD HOUSE | Architect Laura Dewe Mathews shares her secret ingredients

For the third film in our series, Homing In, our co-founder, Matt Gibberd, follows a line of crumbs to the home of architect Laura Dewe Mathews. Known locally as the ‘gingerbread house,’ there is creativity in every detail of Laura’s home, which has been cleverly stitched into its site in east London. As with each of the films in the series, we aim to show how adherence to five key design principles – space, light, materials, nature and decoration – allows you, in Matt’s words, “to live a better and more fulfilled life.” Here, we examine Laura’s key ingredients – the materials that make up the gingerbread house she shares with her family. As she describes it, architecture is all a process of balance and elevation: “You need carbs,” she says. “You need spice, a texture element, and a moment of joy …” Written and presented by Matt Gibberd Filming: Edmund Cook Editing: David Potter Production: Hannah Phillips Graphic Design: Ben Tucker Music: Father You can find out more about Laura's work here: https://www.lauradewemathews.com You can pick up a copy of Matt Gibberd's book, 'A Modern Way to Live' at: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/320176/a-modern-way-to-live-by-gibberd-matt/9780241480496 Cross-laminated timber: Spruce grown and machined in Austria, purchased from KLH who were suppliers and sub-contractors. For more information see https://www.klhuk.com Fancy-butt cedar shingles: Canadian Western Red Cedar shingles, made to order by Vincent Timber http://www.vincenttimber.co.uk/products/cedarshingles/index.html Joinery executed by Roy Middleton http://www.roymiddleton.com/, Will Shannon https://willshannon.co.uk/ and RMHB https://www.rhmb.co.uk/ Hay lamp shade 80cm: https://www.skandium.com/products/hay-rice-paper-shade?variant=31555965747303 Gerrit Rietveld Utrecht Armchairs in Alpaca: https://www.506070.co.uk/products/pair-of-gerrit-rietveld-utrecht-armchairs-cassina-newly-upholstered-in-alpaca Pierre Forssell for Skultuna brass candle sticks: https://www.506070.co.uk/products/rare-pierre-forssell-for-skultuna-solid-brass-candlesticks-1960s-sweden Pentreath and Hall - Faux marble paper lampshade: https://pentreath-hall.com/products/12-french-grand-antique-marble-lampshade Hand blown glass pendant light: https://www.michaelruh.com/collections/shop-lighting/products/sand-halo-light-hand-blown-glass-pendant-light Porcelain door handles: https://www.thpg.de/en/door-knob-porcelain-white-nickel-plated-brass.html Antique convex glass mirror:https://www.506070.co.uk/products/huge-industrial-convex-mirror-in-original-condition Office shelving: https://www.bigdug.co.uk/shelving-c4505/galvanised-shelving-c5026 Bathroom tiles: https://www.pophamdesign.com/tiles Bathroom velvet curtain: https://www.blendworth.co.uk/fabric/collection/new-manor-park.html Bolidt Resin floor: https://stratum.uk.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkdX45cmahgMV55FQBh0d1QclEAAYASAAEgIT5_D_BwE Paper alphabet by Ron King; https://www.ronkingstudio.com/collections/alphabet-series/products/alphabet-ii-unsigned Brass wall lights: Bought at Ardinly Antiques fair https://www.iacf.co.uk/ardingly/ Rugs in the sitting room and Rita's bedroom: Both bought in Marrakech Blue light in Rita’s bedroom: https://www.jielde.com/en/collection/signal/signal-si433/ 2:42 Chapter 1: Building the Gingerbread House 4:30 Chapter 2: an Instant House 6:24 Chapter 3: Truth to Materials 9:07 Chapter 4: Consistency of Materials 10:58 Chapter 5: Nature as a Material 12:01 Chapter 6: Materials & Comfort 15:19 Chapter 7: Balancing Materials 17:33 Chapter 8: Playing with Materials 19:14 Chapter 9: Educating Rita Never miss a new film, subscribe here: https://bit.ly/36I7z8y Listen to our Homing In podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/homing-in/id1496346061 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themodernhouse/ Follow Matt Gibberd on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matt_gibberd/ Selling design-led homes in the UK: https://www.themodernhouse.com Like us on Facebook: https://bit.ly/34BKO3x A weekly newsletter of home and interior inspiration, delivered to your inbox: https://www.themodernhouse.com/newsletter/ Best interiors Instagram accounts (Vogue) Best homes accounts (Guardian) Ultimate interiors accounts (Telegraph)