MODERNIST LIVING.

Curating all things modernist

[modernistliving]

Massive, Expressive, Sculptural – Brutalism Now and Then

Massive, Expressive, Sculptural – Brutalism Now and Then

By Chris van Uffelen

Braun, 2017

Massive, Expressive, Sculptural – Brutalism Now and Then features a comparison of over 300 historical and contemporary brutalist buildings. Large-scale sculptural forms, coarsely finished materials and floor plans that defy convention merge with contemporary design to generate enthralling new creations. Bunker-like bungalows reveal classy interiors, vast religious buildings disclose innovative perspectives and gigantic concrete structures surprise with delicate, artistic elements.

The book is sectioned into five chapters each focusing on certain aspects of architecture - the first chapter ‘Material as Found’ focuses on materials such as concrete, brick, steel, wood, and glass, while chapter three ‘Legibility of Plan’ focuses on aspects such as terraces, cantilevers, setbacks, stacking and upside down.

The book showcases the best examples of brutalism from the past and the present by some of the greatest and most interesting architects - go get your copy NOW!

Photographs courtesy of Braun Publishing

[modernistliving]

Modern Forms: A Subjective Atlas of 20th- Century Architecture

Modern Forms: A Subjective Atlas of 20th- Century Architecture

By Nicolas Grospierre

Prestel, 2018

Award-winning photographer Nicolas Grospierre is releasing a new compact edition of Modern Forms (available from the 5th of March in the UK); the new publication is edited by Alona Pardo and Elias Redstone and features almost 200 photographs of striking Modernist buildings built between 1920 and 1989 in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, and Asia.

Born in Geneva, but now based in Warsaw, Grospierre has spent the last 15 years meticulously documenting Modernist architecture around the world, a process that has turned him into an "obsessive collector”. Grospierre was awarded the Golden Lion at the 2008 Venice Architecture Biennale for his joint exhibition in the Polish Pavilion with Kobas Laksa. His work has been exhibited across the world, including displays of 'Modern Forms' at the Architectural Association, London, and National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.

This compact edition of Modern Forms features iconic buildings such as the Ministry of Highways in Tbilisi, Georgia to the Corn’s Towers Housing Estate in Katowice, Poland to lesser known buildings, such as churches and even bus stops. Many of the buildings look derelict or less than cared for, but they still demonstrate the ingenuity of its design today. 

Overall, the book features a well-balanced selection of photographs from a variety of buildings and forms all over the world. The index towards the end of the book provides further details regarding the date of construction, architect, and purpose of all the buildings featured. Since I can’t stop flipping through it, I would highly recommend it to all modernist fans!  

All photographs © Nicolas Grospierre and book courtesy of Prestel. 

[modernistliving]

Andreas Gursky at Hayward Gallery

From 25 Jan - 22 Apr 2018

After 2 years of renovation, the Hayward Gallery reopens with the first major UK retrospective of the work of acclaimed German photographer Andreas Gursky. Known for his large-scale, often spectacular pictures that portray emblematic sites and scenes of the global economy and contemporary life, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant photographers of our time.

Driven by an interest and insight into ‘the way that the world is constituted’, as well as what he describes as ‘the pure joy of seeing’, Gursky makes photographs that are not just depictions of places or situations, but reflections on the nature of image-making and the limits of human perception. Often taken from a high vantage point, these images make use of a ‘democratic’ perspective that gives equal importance to all elements of his highly detailed scenes.

This exhibition features around 60 of the artist’s ground-breaking photographs from the early 1980s through to his most recent work, and includes some of his most iconic pictures such as Paris, Montparnasse (1993) and Rhine II (1999, remastered 2015).

Andreas Gursky marks the beginning of the Hayward Gallery’s 50th anniversary year and is the first exhibition to take place in the gallery following its two-year refurbishment. For the first time since the Hayward’s original opening, the gallery’s pyramid roof lights will allow natural light into the spaces below.

I recommend booking your tickets online as they are super busy! Expect to spend 1.5 hours at the exhibtion; you will be looking super close into those fine details in the larger photographs.

[modernistliving]

Cook’s Camden

Cook’s Camden: The Making of Modern Housing 

By Mark Swenarton 

Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd, 2017

I was very lucky to receive Cook’s Camden for Christmas and I finished reading it last week! It was a very enjoyable read and it felt very familiar as I have always lived in Camden and visited most of the buildings mentioned in the book. The book is not only beautifully illustrated with original photographs by Martin Charles, taken when the buildings were finished (mainly in 1978 –81); and new photographs by Tim Crocker, commissioned for the book and taken in 2015 –17, but it is also very well researched and written. 

The housing schemes mentioned in this book include Fleet Road, Alexandra Road, Highgate New Town, Branch Hill, Gospel Oak development, Maiden Lane Estate, and some smaller privately commissioned houses. Each of the chapters provide a good overview of the tumultuous politics that were occuring in the Planning and Housing department at Camden, and there were A LOT of politics involved in securing the funds, agreeing over the designs, when to start construction (Fleet Road's construction was very delayed!), timescales, and of course maintaining budgets. Swenarton also writes about the young and ambitious architects who were involved in designing and overseeing the construction of the buldings. 

There seems to be a general consensus that Cook was well liked by his colleagues and was very encouraging to his fellow young architects. There is a chapter at the end of the book that focuses on the Alexandra Road public enquiry; it was shameful that Neave Brown was blamed, it was evident that there was mismangement at the top level and it was always easier to blame the architect. I am glad this book was published in time before Neave Brown’s passing to shed light on the issue and to of course celebrate his work and his fellow colleagues as well. I found the book very inspiring and wished there was another Cook’s Camden in the making for my generation.

All photographs © Tim Crocker courtesy of Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd.

[modernistliving]

Parkleys, Ham

Parkleys, TW10

Eric Lyons, 1954 - 55 (Grade II Listed)

I am a huge fan of Span and always get excited when I see a new listing with original features on the Modern House. I think a Span development could be our next home so I decided to take a stroll in Parkleys. The development was designed by the architect Eric Lyons and built between 1954–1955 on four acres of the former Ham Farm Nursery which was acquired by Townsend and Cushman.

Some lovely words about Eric Lyons and Span developments:

Eric Lyons was admired for 'bridging the gap' between speculative work and the creativity most architects of his generation only found in the public sector. 'Twenty years ago he would have been regarded as barely respectable, today he is important. He may even come to be looked back upon as a key figure' (Architectural Review, February 1959). The opportunity to work in such a close partnership with a sympathetic development enabled Lyons to pursue his own ideas in materials, layout and design. Yet the blocks had to be simple, for 'the architect has to design and organise so that buildings can be produced at the same cost as a builder's scheme providing the same accommodation', as Townsend told the Architects' Journal (20 January 1955, p.72).

[modernistliving]

Row Houses and Cluster Houses: An International Survey

Row Houses and Cluster Houses: An International Survey

By Hubert Hoffmann

Praeger, 1967

Picked this baby up a few weeks ago online but I’ve been eyeing it up for a while. There are other books in the range as well, ie. Holiday Houses, Private Houses, etc. As the title says, it’s all about row and cluster houses, which Hoffman describes as low-rise housing with one-to three-stories that serve as single family houses. It is illustrated with over 220 photographs and 300 plans from Germany, France, Switzerland, England, Scandinavia, and the United States. I spot various well-known houses in the UK in this book. Hoffman shows that with good planning, it can help resolve the dilemma of creating urban houses that are functional and economical, and as well as handsome and liveable.

[modernistliving]

The Good Life

The Good Life - A Guided Visit to the Houses of Modernity 

By Iñaki Ábalos

Park Books, 2017

The well-known Ábalos serves as the tour guide of seven iconic twentieth-century homes that represent various concepts for living. Some of the homes were actually built, while others were merely planned, painted, or created as part of a film set. We see Mies van der Rohe’s House with Three Patios, Martin Heidegger’s cabinin the Black Forest, Picasso’s Villa La Californie in Cannes, and the New York loft that Andy Warhol called the Factory. From the ultramodern geometric houses and gardens in Jacques Tati’s Mon Oncle, we travel to the famed hobby-kit house in Buster Keaton’s One Week and on to the sunny swimming pool and home in David Hockney’s painting A Bigger Splash. Ábalos takes readers through the key philosophical precepts that likely guided the creation of these homes, making insightful points about the relationship between ideas about a particular modern way of living and approaches to architecture and design. What he concludes is that modernism marks less a coherent triumph of positivism, as is often assumed, than a loose celebration of the radical pluralism of the twentieth century.

Photo courtesy of Park Books!

[modernistliving]

Maiden Lane Estate

Maiden Lane Estate, NW1

Gordon Benson and Alan Forsyth (Phase I) & Usiskin, McCain and Champion (Phase II), 1976-83

Maiden Lane Estate is a housing estate near where I live in King’s Cross, it is located beside York Way and several railway lines. It was designed by George Benson and Alan Forsyth (Phase I) and built between 1979 and 1982. You have to walk through a façade of several new builds that are currently part of the new public realm and regeneration at King’s Cross. Many buildings make up the estate. The estate was built in 2 phases and it has 479 homes from bedsits to four-bedroom maisonettes.

Broadfield Lane is a bedsit block designed by Usiskin, McCain and Champion for Phase II of the estate. Window arrangements, materials and expression of circulation elements are typical of all buildings within this phase. The architects successfully sought to create a different built form than Phase I whilst retaining coherence.

Bowmore Walk are comprised of two-story homes entered through a large courtyard. 

St Paul’s Crescent is a larger apartment building facing the low rise duplex. The functional language is continued with expressed piloti and stair cores with deepset balconies above. Highly considered conrete detailing elevates a simple facade design.

St Paul’s Crescent is a two storey Duplex unit with living on upper levels. Simple elevational concept of expressed structure and infill glazing. Colours chosen to emphasis this language. Structural rhythm and window types indicated tenure and function in a legible way. 

[modernistliving]

CARTHA – ON MAKING HEIMAT

CARTHA - ON MAKING HEIMAT

Edited by Elena Chiavi, Pablo Garrido Arnaiz, Francisco Moura Veiga, Guillem Pujol Borràs, Francisco Ramos Ordóñez, Júlia Trias Jurado, Rubén Valdez

Park Books, 2017

A nifty little book I have to share here! CARTHA is a curated platform that focuses on sharing different forms of critical thinking regarding architecture and society. Through opinions, experiences and works, it aspires to map out the contemporary architectural landscape.

In 2016, CARTHA collaborated with the German Pavilion at the International Architecture Exhibition of the 2016 Venice Biennale. Titled Making Heimat: Germany, Arrival Country, the German Pavilion explored the challenges and potential of the recent influx of refugees to Germany has posed for architecture and urban design, and contributions to CARTHA further reflect on this topic. 

A carefully selected multidisciplinary group of people was asked to share views and opinions on the questions raised by the 2016 exhibition at Germany's pavilion in Venice. The book features interviews with Giovanna Borasi of the Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal; David Harvey of the Graduate Center, CUNY; Loren B. Landau of Wits University in Johannesburg; Iverna McGowan of Amnesty International; Saskia Sassen of Columbia University; Anna Terrón of United Nations University, Barcelona, and among many others. 

The interviews are short and very enjoyable; I squeeze through some reading when I want a break here and there. You will get through the book in no time. I also have to mention the minimalist design is very eye-catching. 

Photo courtesy of Park Books!

[modernistliving]

Hallfield Estate

HallfIeld Estate, W2

Berthold Lubetkin and Tecton (Grade II Listed)

I passed by Hallfield Estate while I was doing some site visits for work; I took a quick 5 minute stop to explore and went straight back to work! Hallfield Estate is designed by Berthold Lubetkin and Tecton, and was constructed under the supervision of Lindsay Drake and Denys Lasdun. It is comprised of fourteen blocks and a laundry facility which are all Grade II listed. (However, the Laundry is now the Estate Office!) According to Historic England, Hallfield Estate is a  sophisticated and distinctive aesthetic approach to social housing, whereby the facades are treated like works of abstract art, and I must say it is! The estate fulfilled its brief to provide mass housing and open space in a crowded urban borough, in a plan inspired by Le Corbusier's 'Radiant City’

The estate covers 17 acres, providing housing for 2,362 people in six 10-storey blocks and eight 6-storey blocks. Hallfield, along with Churchill Gardens in Pimlico, was one of the largest and most ambitious housing schemes built in the capital in the immediate post-war years. The estate was planned to include communal amenities such as garages, shops, laundries, clubroom, a public house, nursery school and primary school.

Described as ‘Beaux-arts Modernism’, its architecture clearly shows the influence of the British Modern movement and mid-20th century architectural thought concerning social housing.  

[modernistliving]

Finding Brutalism

Finding Brutalism: A Photographic Survey of Post-War British Architecture

Simon Phipps

Park Books, 2017

A bold and captivating book that not only pleases the eye but artfully documents the complexity and depth of Brutalist architecture. This book captures nearly 200 of Simon Phipps photographs all over the UK, ranging from public and private housing, to schools and universities, churches, museums, theatres, and even entire new towns. Each photograph captures the fine textures and details of the buildings that surround us in our daily life. Phipps’ photographs also reminds us of the social project of the post-war period that could have continued to thrive. The essays towards the end of the book by Catherine Ince and Owen Hatherley and an interview with Kate Macintosh provides a more insightful background of Phipps and the social history of post-war architecture in the UK. A highly recommended addition to your collection.

All photographs © Simon Phipps, Courtesy of Museum im Bellpark

[modernistliving]

Royal College of Physicians

Royal College of Physicians, NW1

Sir Denys Lasdun, 1964 (Grade I Listed)

A magnificent building set in Regent’s Park, a building you cannot miss! As cheesy as that sounds - it is true. I had the opportunity to wander inside during Open House a few weekends ago and I admire its boldness greatly. The building is pre-stressed concrete clad with very pale grey porcelain mosaic, in two different patterns, and dark blue engineering bricks.

All the vertical windows have small inset drains to prevent water from staining the mosaic, which still looks pristine today. 

The interiors include an impressive sequence of spaces centred on a large, white marble-clad, full height stair-hall with two tiers of galleries and a modern baroque marble staircase. We also had the pleasure of having a garden tour, the garden is full of medicinal herbs! 

The building was awarded RIBA Bronze Medal in 1964 and a Civic Trust Award in 1967.

[modernistliving]

Vitra Showroom Sale 2017

Yesterday we queued for the Vitra Showroom Sale in Clerkenwell and it was a fabulous but tiring affair. We were there very early and I’m too embarrassed to say what time we arrived but we snatched some goodies ahead of those who didn’t come early enough. I took home with me a Miniature Eames DKR Wire Chair for £106.80 (normally £179) and it was the only one they had so I’m glad I snatched up that sticker swiftly!

For those who don’t know - you’re not allowed to take the items with you, instead you have to take the sticker off the item you want and keep it with you until you pay at the till. Once you’ve paid for your items, one of the Vitra employees will pick the items for you. I think this is an excellent system so people aren’t dragging items with them around the shop. However, while I was waiting for my items to be picked up, the Vitra employee told me he couldn’t find the miniature chair and he thinks someone either stole it or have taken the item to line up in the queue to pay for it! I was furious because 1.) Someone is disobeying the system, if the sticker is not there then the item has been claimed for so you can’t buy it 2.) Refer back to number 1. Anyway I hunted down the item and after searching the very long queue I found a lady holding it with its box along with a Vitra bird. The Vitra employee kind of scolded her but I don’t think she understood...I digress, but I got the item anyway!

I also picked up the RAR rocking chair in white for £139 + VAT but when I went back to inspect it before paying I saw a bunch of scratches!! I couldn’t live with the scratches so I put the sticker back and another girl immediately snatched the sticker. I’m glad the scratched up RAR rocking chair went to a good home. 

Vitra Toolbox for £12 (normally £22). 

Uten.Silo II for £126 (normally £219). I have been coveting Uten.Silo for over 4 years now and I could never justify the full price, so when I saw this I had to have it. There were only 5 white ones and 1 black one. 

LTR special edition in blue for £130.80 (normally £219, but I think the limited edition may be more expensive?).

Vitra Cork Family Model A for £162 (normally £335).

Finally, I picked up a multicolour Hang It All for a friend for £118.80 (normally £205). 

There were loads of other chairs but we didn’t need any of them, there were also tons of dot cushions for £10 and Artek stools as well. 

We had a fabulous day but the crowds were overwhelming despite the shop letting people inside in waves. By the time we left at 10:30 (store opened at 9:30), the queue was still very long and I wasn’t sure if they would be able to pick up any goodies, but there is always next year! 

[modernistliving]

Walters Way & Segal Close

Walters Way & Segal Close

Alice Grahame & Taran Wilkhu

Park Books, 2017

A well written and beautifully photographed book documenting two tiny streets in Honor Oak Park, Lewisham (Walters Way and Segal Close) known for its unusual houses designed by modernist architect Walter Segal. The homes were built as part of a council-run self-building housing scheme that allowed people to design and build their own homes. Segal Close was part of the first phase built between 1977-82, while Walters Way (the second phase) was built between 1984-87. Segal passed away in 1985 and the streets were named after him in his honour. Occupants from both streets were involved in producing this book, allowing photographs to be taken from outside and inside their homes. The homeowners share their insight and experience in living their unique homes and tight-knit community. Did you know that Walters Way and Segal Close are private roads and the homeowners are responsible for lighting and road maintenance?! The homeowners would gather every few months and do a street cleaning session that normally ends with tea and cake. The book inspires us to consider self-building; not only in term of housing, but also of the communities we live in. Despite Segal's prolific career, there are not many books published on him; I would thoroughly recommend this, especially if you are like me and enjoy having a nosey inside people’s homes!

[modernistliving]

Modern Architecture in Berlin

Modern Architecture in Berlin: 466 Examples from 1900 to the Present Day

Rolf Rave

Edition Axel Menges, 2008

With 466 examples of architecture built from 1907 to the present day, this is the most comprehensive guide to Modern Architecture in Berlin. The author’s choices support the greater intention to present what can now be deemed contemporary, typical, and exemplary about Berlin’s architectural history. The book includes a stylised map of Berlin that is sectioned to eight geographical sections (N, E, S, W, NE, SE, NW, SW) and the buildings are grouped accordingly to their geographical location in the book as well. Simple photographs with a short summary and floor plans makes this an easy but enjoyable read. Overall, I find the book easy to use and wouldn’t hesitate in bringing this along when I do a trip to Berlin- but I think it will have to be a long trip if I want to see all 466 buildings! 

[modernistliving]

The Modern Factory

The Modern Factory

Edward D. Mills

Architectural Press, 1959

This book solves many problems of factory layout, planning, design and construction. It contains chapters dealing with siting and layout; the factory estate; the design and structural technical considerations; storage and warehouse accommodation; and administration buildings. There are numerous line-diagrams, tables and woking check-lists and what a cover! Grab yourself a copy if you're invested in modernist industrial architecture. 

[modernistliving]

80-90 South Hill Park

80-90 South Hill Park, NW3

Stanley Amis & William and Gillian Howell, 1956

This was a development of six terrace houses each with only a 12-foot frontage. The architects, who occupied two of the houses, employed Le Corbusier's 'Modular' system of proportions based upon the Golden Mean.