The Secret Life of the Modern House

A ground-breaking and engaging explanation of the evolution of the homes we live in today - told through the stories of 90 iconic houses and the designers and architects who created them.

Over the last century the way that we live at home has changed dramatically. Nothing short of a design revolution has transformed our houses and the spaces within them - moving from traditional patterns of living all the way through to an era of more fluid, open-plan and modern styles. Whether we live in a new home or a period house, our spaces will have been shaped one way or another by the pioneering Modernists and Mid-century architects and designers who argued for a fresh way of life.

Architectural and design writer Dominic Bradbury charts the course of this voyage all the way from the late 19th century through to the houses of today in this ground-breaking book. Over nineteen thematic chapters, he explains the way our houses have been reinvented, while taking in - along the way - the giants of Art Deco, influential Modernists including Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright, as well as post-war innovators such as Eero Saarinen and Philip Johnson. Taking us from the 20th to the 21st century, Bradbury explores the progress of 'modernity' itself and reveals the secret history of our very own homes.

About the Author

Dominic Bradbury is a journalist and writer specializing in architecture and design. He writes for many magazines and newspapers in the UK and internationally, including Wallpaper, World of Interiors, House & Garden, Elle Decoration, Architectural Digest, Dwell, Vogue Living, The Times, the Sunday Times, and the Financial Times.

Adding to his BA, MA and Postgraduate Diploma qualifications, Bradbury is now working on a PhD and is a visiting lecturer at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. His books include Atlas of Mid-Century Modern Houses, Off the Grid, New Nordic Houses, Modernist Design Complete, Mid-Century Modern Complete, The Iconic House, The Iconic Interior, New Brazilian House, Waterside Modern and Mountain Modern.