AN unusual retrospective into the work of a well-known Hampstead architect, who is said to have been the inspiration for the name of a James Bond villain, is being told through his toy designs for his children. An exhibition is being held at 2 Willow Road

AN unusual retrospective into the work of a well-known Hampstead architect, who is said to have been the inspiration for the name of a James Bond villain, is being told through his toy designs for his children.

An exhibition is being held at 2 Willow Road, the former home of architect Erno Goldfinger, showing his imaginative 1930s designs for toys and children's furniture.

The influential modernist designer proved the inspiration for Ian Fleming's infamous Bond villain, apparently because the author was so angry at the look of the terrace designed by Goldfinger on his Hamp-stead home and the two neighbouring properties.

Admission to 2 Willow Road and the exhibition 'Design for a Modernist Childhood' costs �5.30 (Adult) and �2.80 (Child). It is open Thursday to Saturday. For full details of opening times and other information, telephone 0207 435 6166 or visit www.nationaltrust.org. uk/

Read more in this week's Ham&High.