The big room

A Tour of the Temple

The Big Room

The main room at The Temple is what the entire building is all about. Not only does its architecture form an exterior that is typically Palladian in its beauty, but the interior has been designed for optimal enjoyment of the view beyond.

• The main room is 9ft up from ground level, which is the optimum height from which to enjoy the canal that was built in front of it at the same time. When sat down in the room, it almost feels as though the room is floating and the canal continues underneath.

• The room is roughly 26ft long and 12ft wide, with the bay window increasing the width to 16ft at the centre.

• There is a lot of symbolism designed into the interior. Four busts of Roman emperors represent the four ages of man. In the two alcoves, there were likely sculptures of Adam and Eve, or a Shepherd and a Shepherdess. The plasterwork on the ceiling represents the four seasons, as well as the cornucopia of abundance in the bay window.

• It faces due east and due west, which in decoration terms is the best, as well as offering beautiful views of the sunrise and the archetypal Constable landscape.

• The Temple was likely built as a pavilion within a park to enjoy tea, and not somewhere to live as I do today.

• Furnishing the Palladium proportions of the room to suit how I wanted to live now wasn't immediately easy or obvious. I landed upon seating around the fireplace to enjoy warmth in the winter, with a large sofa in the bay window in order to enjoy the canal view and some smaller moveable chairs around this. The ottoman in the centre of the room grounds the space while also acting as a coffee table and additional seating when needed.

• I subscribe to David Hick's notion of 'open armchairs' within a room; lighter and smaller armchairs that can be turned and moved easily and accordingly with how you are using the room at that moment.

• Getting the furniture plan right is important, particularly if the room you are designing wasn't originally designed for the purpose you are using it for now. It involves a lot of trial and error to land on the right layout.

Further reading

• John Constable