Ernő Goldfinger (1902–1987) was a Hungarian-born British architect and furniture designer, a key figure of modernism in Britain, best remembered for his residential tower blocks. Born in Budapest, he turned to architecture after reading Hermann Muthesius's book on the English house, moved to Paris in 1921 and studied at the École des Beaux-Arts. Perret's reinforced concrete became a lasting influence. He married Ursula Blackwell and in 1934 settled in London, where he spent the rest of his career. Ian Fleming named the James Bond villain Auric Goldfinger after him; Fleming had objected to the demolition of the Hampstead cottages that made way for his house.
Read moreShow less
Before the war he built three houses at 1–3 Willow Road in Hampstead, among them his own home, 2 Willow Road (1939), now in the care of the National Trust. Alexander Fleming House, built for the Ministry of Health and now Metro Central Heights (1963), was later listed. The 27-storey Balfron Tower in Poplar (1967) served as the model for the 31-storey Trellick Tower in Kensal Town (1972), now listed Grade II* and something of a design emblem of London.
