Outlandish forms and extravagant materials fill many an architecture tome, but The New Modern House documents a refreshing backlash to the tide of style over substance. Looking at 50 residential projects from across the world, it explores the rise of an approach that combines functional design and sustainable processes with a straightforward, honest aesthetic.
Sober as this 'New Functionalism' may sound, it gives rise to radically varying structures - from the blocky, agricultural-like appearance of the corrugated 'Permanent Camping' house by Casey Brown Architecture in Australia to the sculptural, but eminently practical, gabion, pitched-roof façade of '9X9 House' in suburban Germany by Titus Bernhard Architekten.
We'll admit a touch of bias, given that it was penned by Wallpaper's very own architecture team, Jonathan Bell and Ellie Stathaki, but the self-assured and practical beauty documented in The New Modern House is far more interesting to behold than the architectural swagger with which we're so often presented.
’Permanent Camping’ by Casey Brown Architecture in Australia
’Grimeton Nature Reserve Building’ by Strata Arkitektur in Sweden
’Casa Tóló’ by Álvaro Leite Siza Vieira in Portugal
’Element House’ by Rintala Eggertsson Architects in South Korea
’Casa Fosc’ by Pezo von Ellrichshausen Architects in Chile
’Casa No Gerês’ by Correia Ragazzi Arquitectos in Portugal
’XS, S, M, L Houses’ by UNI Architects in the USA
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COS and Studio Ashby champion women artists with a colourful interiors takeoverFashion label COS unites with the London-based interior design studio to curate an eclectic series of works which champion women artists in its stores in London, Paris and Helsinki
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Omar Degan to curate first Pan-African architecture biennaleThe first Pan-African architecture biennale has been announced, taking place in Nairobi in 2026; we caught up with its inaugural curator, architect Omar Degan, to discuss the festival's mission, vision and scope
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Modernist Travel Guide: a handy companion to explore modernism across the globe‘Modernist Travel Guide’, a handy new pocket-sized book for travel lovers and modernist architecture fans, comes courtesy of Wallpaper* contributor Adam Štěch and his passion for modernism
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Ten contemporary homes that are pushing the boundaries of architectureA new book detailing 59 visually intriguing and technologically impressive contemporary houses shines a light on how architecture is evolving
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Take a deep dive into The Palm Springs School ahead of the region’s Modernism WeekNew book ‘The Palm Springs School: Desert Modernism 1934-1975’ is the ultimate guide to exploring the midcentury gems of California, during Palm Springs Modernism Week 2025 and beyond
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Meet Minnette de Silva, the trailblazing Sri Lankan modernist architectSri Lankan architect Minnette de Silva is celebrated in a new book by author Anooradha Iyer Siddiq, who looks into the modernist's work at the intersection of ecology, heritage and craftsmanship
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'Tropicality' explored in Indonesian architect Andra Matin’s first monograph'Tropicality' is a key theme in a new book on Indonesian architect Andra Matin, whose work blends landscape, architecture and living
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‘A Time ⋅ A Place’ is a lovingly compiled photographic portrait of cars and architecture‘A Time ⋅ A Place’ is a celebration of the European Car of the Year and changing perceptions of modern design, pairing the best buildings of the age with their automotive contemporaries
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Álvaro Siza’s new monograph through the lens of Duccio Malagamba is impactful and immersiveÁlvaro Siza and photographer Duccio Malagamba collaborate on a new monograph by Phaidon; ‘Before / After: Álvaro Siza Duccio Malagamba’ celebrates the Portuguese architect's work
