R.275 MODERN HOUSE

This unassuming building in Kent epitomised late twentieth century housing for iconic model railway manufacturer Hornby. Thousands of houses were built in the UK throughout this period and this individual property embodies an archetype of the ubiquitous standardisation and suburban uniformity of the time. Using this particular example Hornby created a scale model kit ‘R.275 Modern House’ which I discovered, seemingly forgotten at the back of a model railway enthusiast shop in Leytonstone, East London. With detective work I tracked the building down to a cul-de-sac in Margate and through a series of photographs I followed the process used by the Hornby model designers to survey the building. At first glance ordinary and without character the process reveals individual details and idiosyncrasies.

The project brings together various depictions of the semi-detached house and the model – large format photographs, found images, polaroids, digitally manipulated images, publications and audio compositions. Each item in the series is given a reference number forming an archive, a ‘kit of parts' with which to describe contemporary suburban life.