Toastrack (2013)

In a new series of posts we will revisit our past projects, events and exhibitions. Some were so long ago that even we have forgotten them, but one we look back on with great affection was our self-directed residency of the Hollings Building in Manchester throughout 2013. More affectionately known (to just about everybody) as the Toastrack, the building was once the Domestic and Trades College. We spent a whole year in building exploring its architecture, history, and trawling through the archives from our own designated office. The blog we created is still live, and you can spend a few hours scrolling through what we found. Visit the Toastrack Blog - and here’s some select images to give you a tantalising glimpse of what’s in store…

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Monocle on Design

We always have the latest copy of Monocle somewhere in our office at Modernist HQ. As we can’t be in our office right now, we’ve been getting our design fix from the great Monocle on Design podcast. Head over to the Monocle website for the full archive of episodes, some full length, some short, all fascinating. You can find episodes on Eileen Gray, Sister Corita, book and poster design, a celebration of Sir Terrance Conran, and so much more, loads to satisfy your design thirst, here

Image: Monocle

Little Lego Builds

Im sure some of you have, inexplicably, have discovered that you have a bit of time on your hands. Some of you, especially if you have kids in the house, may have a load of LEGO kicking about - just waiting to be trod on. Well, thanks to the generosity of our friend Tony Bolton aka @tonyblego on Instagram, we are able to offer you some easy to follow instructions to build your own Modernist buildings.

Tony designs and builds these models himself and has meticulously put together the instructions - he has even added some alternative suggestions if you dont have specific bricks. They are quite simple models but its doubtful you will have the all white and grey bricks favoured by us purist Modernists but we will allowfor some colourful improvisation.

We are charging a couple of quid for the download because frankly our online sales, which we so rely on to keep going as an organisation, have gone down to virtually nothing and any income, no matter how small, is welcome.

Tony has given us three models to make - The Masters House at the Bauhaus, Trellick Tower in London and the front facade of Battersea Power Station. He has promised us a couple more to see us through the long lockdown ahead - so please download via our shop and happy building.

Design Masters: Vignelli

In our ongoing efforts to keep you entertained, we’ve found this great 23 minute mini-documentary about designers Massimo and Lella Vignelli.

“Massimo and Lella Vignelli are designers who have created work in a wide variety of areas, including interior design, environmental design, package design, graphic design, furniture design, and product design. This interview explores the Vignelli’s methods, philosophies and work, which have shaped how we see and interact with design for the past 60 years. It reveals the very human story of passionate, strong-willed people who have dedicated their lives to translating abstract ideas into the objects we love.”

You can watch it here

Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Image from Aiga

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Image: NY.CURBED

Image: Vignelli Center

Digital Download of Issue 2

So many of you enjoyed the Digital download of our very first issue, we’ve now published Issue 2. Available as a Digital download now, and what’s more, it’s the original cover price of £3.75, which i’m sure you’ll agree is a bargain! What are you waiting for? We’ve got Brutalist toilets, William Mitchell, banks, and Runcorn futurism, and it’s all BRILLIANT. For more information, and to download, follow this link

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Sent to Coventry

Before the lock down we sent our intrepid explorer, the original and best Modern Moocher, Mr Steve Marland to Coventry. Whilst there he visited Coventry Cathedral, a modern marvel, reconstructed after it was devastated by incendiary bombs in the Second World War, burning with the city surrounding it on 14th November 1940. The cathedral was rebuilt, the Queen laying the foundation stone in March 1956, and consecrated in May 1962. For your delight Steve has posted all the photos from his trip on his Modern Mooch blog, which you can find here

Image: Steve Marland

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Image: Steve Marland

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Image: Steve Marland

MIES: The definitive monograph

It will come as no shock to you that we at Modernist HQ are fans of architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. We are also fans of meaty architecture books (we miss our library), so when we heard that MIES, the chunky coffee table monograph was to be refreshed and reissued we were naturally delighted. Published by Phaidon, the reissue is available to buy this week. Alright, the cover price is quite steep at £100, but maybe think of it as an investment, it is, after all, the only book on Mies van Der Rohe you could want or need, and if your pockets are deep enough, why not let it be a lock down treat to yourself? The book is rich in photographs, architectural drawings, plans and correspondence which show off the glorious simplicity of iconic buildings such as the Barcelona Pavilion (1929) and the Kröller-Müller Villa (1912-13) to name just two. The book also details Mies van der Rohe’s collaborations with artists, for example New York’s Seagram Building (1954-8) and the commissioned paintings by Mark Rothko (the Segram Murals, which are now on display in Tate Modern), and Mies van Der Rohe’s design for the Neue Nationalgalerie (1968) in Berlin. From glass skyscrapers, homes, galleries, banks, and memorials, it’s all here in the 544 lavish pages. For more information head over to the Phaidon website by clicking here

“This is the most readable, beautiful, and comprehensive book ever published on one of the twentieth century's most influential architects” - MIES by Detlef Mertins, published by Phaidon, out now.

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Urbanized

In the ongoing release of free documentary films from director Gary Hustwit, it’s the turn this week of Urbanized (2011), a documentary about the design of cities, looking at the issues and strategies behind urban design. It features the likes of Candy Chang, Rem Koolhaas, Oscar Niemeyer, Sir Norman Foster, Michael Sorkin and many more, you can watch it here

Blogging About Blogs: Part 1

If there’s one thing that unites the Modernist community, it is the convivial sharing of our mid century finds. We wanted to highlight some of our favourite modernist bloggers / sharers / content providers, so we’ve made this list. Just a few to get us started, and we will be sharing more in the coming weeks:

He’s dirty, he’s modern, he’s a scoundrel, our pal John Grindrod, author of the great Concretopia and Outskirts provides us with an embarrassment of modernist riches. Check out Dirty Modern Scoundrel

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If you haven’t read John Boughton’s book Municipal Dream, then why not? In the meantime though, check out his blog of the same name, here

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Matt from Modernist HQ runs this Instagram on Irish design modernism. Who knew there was so much modernism from the emerald isle? Take a look at modernist.ie for yourself here

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You will all know Steve Marland from the modern mooches he organises for us. Whilst our events are on hold for the time being, did you know you can mooch in blog form? Check out Steve’s modern mooch here

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Alan Boyson’s ‘three ships’ mosaic is one of our favourite pieces of public art in the UK. Esther Johnson created the Ships in the Sky project to both celebrate it and campaign for it, and it can be read here

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Moderniste Internationale

We all know we can’t leave the house at the moment, let alone dart across international borders; but in this time of enforced sedentary living, we are thinking of our international modernist friends. We wanted to share some of our favourite modernists (and those in-between) who we love, and we think you will too:

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OMI (Office for Metropolitan Information) are based in Rotterdam, and offer a unique urban experience for everyone interested in city culture, architecture and metropolitan development. Check them out here

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Modernist Adelaide celebrate Adelaide’s modernist architecture online with their award-winning tours and events, and this gorgeous publication. Head over to their instagram here

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One for the German speakers, but to be honest if you don’t speak German you can always look at the pictures. Head over to moderneREGIONAL for some architectural treats, here

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Now time for some Canadian modernism from the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation, full of delights including an online shop, here

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Basque modernism you say? The pleasingly clean modernbasquecountry instagram is one of our favourites, and you can see what all the fuss is about, here

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Modernism Week are based in Palm Springs and celebrate and foster appreciation of midcentury architecture and design, so for a bit of USA glamour look no further than here

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Archive: Galt, Games & Garland

Back in 2017 The Modernist Society presented the exhibition Galt, Games & Garland at the Central Library in Manchester. Curated by Steve Marland and Natalie Ainscough, the exhibition looked at the legacy and toys created by James Galt & Co Ltd, who moved to Cheadle in 1957. Designed to be educational in nature, non-gender specific, simple, bold, well constructed, collaborative and not competitive, Galt employed sound modernist principles and design. We thought we would share some pages from Galt catalogues, and we hope you enjoy them.

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All aboard!

Steve Marland, our very own Modern Moocher has reminded us of his blog on all things buses. Head over to ‘The Bus Stops Here’ for a plethora of bus stops, bus shelters, bus conductors, and transport cafes, here

Our Dieter Rams Top 10

Continuing our ongoing and unwavering appreciation for Dieter Rams, we thought we would take the opportunity to share 10 Rams designs we simply love, here for your delectation in no particular order…

Often nicknamed Snow White’s Coffin, the Phonosuper SK4, new-style radio-phono-combination designed by Rams and Hans Gugelot, and first available in 1956-7. Photo from Vinyl Factory

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Pocket Radio (Model T3) from 1958, a timeless design which went on to inspire Jonathan Ive’s first design for the Apple iPod in 2001. Photo from dasprogramm

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The KF20 coffee machine (filter) for Braun in 1972. Photo from dasprogramm

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The 606 Universal Shelving System from 1960, made by Vitsœ. Photo Wiki Commons.

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Table Lighter from 1968, an elegant design in black plastic and chrome plated metal. Photo Cooper Hewitt

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AB 312 alarm clock for Braun in 1985, designed in collaboration with Dietrich Lubs. Photo Wright20

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The AB1 alarm clock, designed by Dieter Rams and Dietrich Lubs in 1971, a recognisable classic. Photo medium

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The 621 table, designed by Rams for Vitsœ in 1962, here seen in a perfectly nesting pair. Photo red-dot

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SM3 Electric Razor, designed by Rams and Gerd Muller in 1960. Photo Tumblr

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TP1 Radio / Phono combi, designed by Ram for Braun in 1959. Photo by das_programmagram

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If you love these designs (and why wouldn’t you) we highly recommend a visit to the Vitsœ website. Vitsœ, who manufacture Rams furniture designs sponsored our Modernist HQ in Manchester with a 606 shelving system, read more about them, and see more Rams designs here

Dieter Rams: Dezeen Interview

It won't come as a shock to you that Dieter Rams is one of our immovable heroes at Modernist HQ. In our ongoing efforts to keep you entertained, here's an interview with the great man himself from Dezeen, well worth a listen, and you can do so here

Vitsœ’s 606 Universal Shelving System, designed by Dieter Rams, the modular shelving system was first designed in 1959

The most modernist dog...

In the Modernist Magazine office we usually get together on a Friday to discuss forthcoming issues of the magazine, exhibitions and events for our forthcoming programme, and other very important stuff. Sometimes though we get together to discuss what is the most modernist of any given thing. Jack decided to get you all involved through a Twitter poll a couple months ago, which asked “What is the most modernist dog?” - and well, it seems you can’t be trusted. The most modernist dog IS NOT a Whippet, it is in fact a Dachshund, and to explain exactly why, here are some images…

Waldi was the first official Olympic mascot, created by Otl Aicher for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany

The BRIO pull along Dachshund, a classic children’s toy, created in 1958, and still the same as it ever was

1956 illustration for International Textiles by René Gruau. Gruau also created that iconic poster for Fellini’s film La Dolce Vita in 1960

This little sculpture of a Dachshund was mass produced in Italy in the late 1950s, and designed by Alfredo Barbini

This pin-up poster of Stefanie Powers starring in The Girl From U.N.C.L.E in 1966

This poster for Jacques Tati’s film Mon Oncle from 1958, with a lovely Dachshund in silhouette

This deck of playing cards from the late 1940s

and this postcard from the USSR. Need we say more…

Art, Architecture & Science: Mid Century Manchester Modernism

Last year our very own Eddy Rhead headlined the Bluedot Festival (at least that’s what he tells people). Eddy delivered his talk on mid century Manchester modernism to a full house, with crowd surfers, fainters, the lot. If you have a spare 26 minutes (and we have a suspicion that you might) you can watch his legendary set here - much like the Sex Pistols at the Free Trade Hall, everybody says they were at Bluedot to watch Eddy speak, but now you can feel you actually were, without leaving your house.

Objectified

Filmmaker Gary Hustwit is streaming his documentaries worldwide for free during the current COVID-19 lock down, and we couldn’t be more grateful. This week it’s the turn of Objectified, a film about our complex relationship with manufactured objects. Amongst the designers featured are Paola Antonelli, Chris Bangle, Tim Brown, Dieter Rams, Marc Newson, Alice Rawsthorn, Jonathan Ive, and many more. Watch it here

Digital Download of Issue 1

As rare as a competent politician these days, the very first issue of The Modernist BOLD is a collectors item and goes for literally pounds on the black market.

We have come a long way in the 9 years since we started and we have seen a lot of changes. To be honest we’ve seen all the changes we want to see in the last week alone. We look forward to a week where nothing changes.

As you may have seen we have closed our bricks and mortar shop and now our online shop. This means we wont be able to send out real physical copies of the magazine until after the lockdown is lifted. In response to this we will gradually be releasing back issues of the magazine online for you to purchase.

This means we can can continue to make a small income whilst the barricades are up but it also means you will be able to read loads of great articles you may have missed out on.

We are, obviously, starting with our very first issue BOLD. With an intro from Jonathan Meades and articles about such things as cooling towers and tripe it pretty much set the agenda for every issue that followed it.

Follow the link below to get you digital copy.

Modernist films to keep you busy

Isolation is no fun, right? Well, we at the Modernist Society are here to inform, educate and entertain, so here’s our list of nice documentaries, talks, and other bits, all available to watch for free:

1. Dieter Rams in conversation at ArtCenter College of Design, California: click here

2. Helvetica: feature length typography documentary by Gary Hustwit: click here

3. Bauhaus 100: documentary marking 100 years of the Bauhaus school: click here

4. Lecture by Tadao Ando at Art Institute Chicago: click here

5. Panel discussion on Eileen Gray’s Villa E-1027 by Ivorypress: click here

6. Jane Jacobs speaking at her last public appearance in 2006: click here

7. Jonathan Meades documentary on Franco and Spanish architecture: click here

8. Pevsner Revisited: documentary on Nikolaus Pevsner: click here

9. Britain’s Post War Brutalist architecture documentary: click here

10. The Smithson’s on Housing documentary from 1970: click here

Soviet Space Graphics: Cosmic Visions From the USSR

Fans of Soviet space design, there’s a new book released today. ‘Soviet Space Graphics: Cosmic Visions from the USSR’ is one of the most lavish publications on the theme to date. Of course, there wasn't much room for anything too lavish back in the USSR, but this book which runs at 240 full-colour pages, is a visual feast with plenty to keep you busy during the Corona lock down. Plus a few full-body space suits that look incredibly useful right now. 

The book is a collaboration with the Moscow Design Museum, a relative newbie on the scene opening in 2012 as the first cultural institution in Russia devoted to design. It charts through design the tensions of the Cold War and how space was an arena of competition, technological advance, and military strength. All our heroes are represented, cosmic trailblazers in both human form with the likes of Yuri Gagarin, and animal, with space-dogs Strelka and Belka. The book is divided in four chapters, one titled ‘Future Visions’ of particular interest to us here at The Modernist Society, looking at how the Soviet’s saw advancements in space technology impacting here on earth, with proposals for vast vertical cities, atomic aeroplanes, and aquatic infrastructure networks included. The graphics are in this book are simply beautiful. High-quality reproductions from hand painted posters, flyers and pamphlets, Phaidon have also gone the extra mile and provided us with biographical information for each artist they’ve featured.

“Fun, fantastical, weird, wonderful, occasionally ominous, but always captivating, these images simultaneously transport readers back to a time of great optimism and boundless discovery, while also highlighting the vast, uncharted territory of space exploration today. Full of nostalgia and kitsch, it is a true celebration of the visionaries at work behind the iron curtain.” 

 Soviet Space Graphics: Cosmic Visions from the USSR is released on 20th March 2020 and is authored by Alexandra Sankova in collaboration with the Moscow Design Museum #SovietSpaceGraphicsBook