Issue 26 / HEALTH / SPRING 2018
Modernism has always put health as one of its prime directives. The insanitary chaos of the 19th century would give way to the airy rationalism of the 20th century. Fresh air and light were the aim, concrete and glass were the cure. Every aspect of our lives could be improved by modernism it would seem – not just physical health, but our mental health as well.Healthy body. Healthy mind.
We must never forget that our beautiful NHS was born out of a country keen to modernise. Our postwar social housing programme was as much about improving the health of its inhabitants as it was about housing them. This agenda had many victories along the way, but also some failures. There are a few bitter pills to swallow in this issue but as long as you have this issue of The Modernist on your bedside table you’ll be able to claim that ‘at least I still have my health’.
