Modernism

How Donald Wexler and William Krisel turned Palm Springs into a Hollywood retreat

Pat Rizzo and his Orchestra up the tempo and the dance floor swells with men in retro casuals and women with red lipstick and Mad Men hairdos. It’s the annual gala benefit at the Canyon Country Club, the big ticket...

Habitat ’67 duplex unit renovated to original conditions by Safdie Architects in Montréal

Atop Habitat ’67 in Montréal, on the 10th floor, a private duplex has been renovated by Safdie Architects with the intent of donating to the public as a scholarly resource and architectural tourist attraction. Considered one of the most important pieces...

New French fragrance maison Ormaie references modernist design greats

‘When we are developing a perfume, I can just tell Maman: this smells too much of grandma’s soap in the kitchen, and she will know exactly what smell I am referring to. It also helps that my grandma has been...

The postwar public art that became a symbol of the British modernist dream

It’s not hard to determine where fine art photographer Simon Phipps’ expertise lies. With previous publications entitled Brutal London, Finding Brutalism and even a Brutalist London map under his belt, one could say his subject is somewhat cast in concrete. For his...

Le Corbusier’s apartment in Paris opens to public after reconstruction

Le Corbusier’s apartment in Paris, where he lived from 1934 to 1965, has opened to the public following an extensive reconstruction. It was led by the Le Corbusier Foundation that now allows people to experience his private studio, personal objects, bespoke design...

André Lurçat-designed school in France scoops 2018 WMF/Knoll Modernism Prize

The striking modernist Karl Marx Middle School by architect André Lurçat in France has just been announced as winner of the 2018 World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize. The building, which was originally inaugurated in 1933 and once described as ‘the...

Eileen Gray’s E-1027 launches crowdfunding campaign for restoration of original interiors

A crowd-funding campaign has been launched to raise money for important restorations to Eileen Gray’s modernist villa E-1027 in the south of France. The house, which reopened in 2015 after crucial structural restoration saved it from falling into complete disrepair...

The first book on the philosophy and work of Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy

This first dedicated and cohesive book on Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy (1900-89) compiles an rich amount of diverse material on the modernist architect known for his work developing traditional Arab architecture alongside principles of modernism. The substantial volume combines previously...

‘The Barbican Estate’ by Stefi Orazi celebrates 50 years of modernist living

London’s Barbican Estate is revealed through a social lens by writer Stefi Orazi and photographer Christoffer Rudquist on the advent of the 50-year anniversary of when residents first arrived. Uncovering all the eccentricities of living inside a modernist experiment, The...

Tropical modernism: a subversion, an escape and a global influence

The tropical climate subverted and softened modernism into a new form – taking the formal qualities and essential concepts of modernism, yet adapting the style with local materials and techniques better suited to the environment. Methods of passive cooling and sustainable...

Bergen-based architect Todd Saunders’ home is a soaring symphony in Norwegian wood

Describing his latest project, a house for his own family in a leafy suburb of Bergen, Todd Saunders says, ‘It’s like three sticks, stacked on top of each other.’ At a stretch, the analogy holds – the house is...

From Vertigo to Psycho, how Hitchcock changed the role of architecture in film