Modern London Houses

My architectural guide to the best modern houses in London and its surroundings

Compiled by David Anderson

Introduction

Despite the general opposition to Modern style houses, London has a considerable number of interesting individual examples, often hidden away in small mews sites or previously under-developed backland sites. I am aiming to gradually photograph each one and record their precise address.

When I say 'Modern' I don't mean of recent construction, but designed in the 'Modern Style' which arrived here in the thirties. In contrast to architectural styles of the past which modelled 'mass' sculpturally, the Modern Style uses space as its medium. Hence buildings in this style tend to have plain unornamented construction while having complex, connected spaces, often linking different rooms and levels and linking interior with garden.

Notes

In the guide pages, clicking the small images will bring up a larger version. If I know the details, I have included the architect and date of construction in the columns after the image. The note "Listed" means this property is on the Government list of buildings of architectural or historical interest, giving it statutory protection. I have also included reference numbers (abbreviated to 'IoE') to the listed buildings website "Images Of England". Other abbreviations in the right-hand comments column are page references to books listed in the bibliography (below). I've also added some other buildings of interest, especially small blocks of flats.

Guides to the North London Boroughs

Guides to the South London Boroughs

Guides to the Home Counties North of London

Guides to the Home Counties South of London

A Few Houses From The Rest Of England

Links

Bibliography

AR The Architectural Review
MH The Modern HouseF.R.S.YorkeThe Architectural Press1934, (References are from the Eighth Edition 1957)
MHE The Modern House in EnglandF.R.S.YorkeThe Architectural Press1937
NHGBNew Housing in Great BritainBruckmann and LewisAlec Tiranti1960
H&GSHouse and Garden Book of Small HousesEditor:Robert HarlingConde Nast1961
H&GMHouse and Garden Book of Modern Houses and ConversionsEditor:Robert HarlingConde Nast1966
ABT Architecture in Britain TodayMichael WebbCountry Life1969
JP Houses for TodayJune ParkBatsford1971
TMHTThe Modern House TodayNick Dawe & Kenneth PowellBlack Dog2001
EH England A Guide To Post-War Listed BuildingsElaine HarwoodBatsford2003
20CJ2Journal of the Twentieth Century Society No.2Gazetteer by Jeremy Gould with John NewmanThe Twentieth Century Society1996
20CJ4Journal of the Twentieth Century Society No.4The Twentieth Century Society2000