Modernism in Metro-Land

A black and white photograph of the art deco Lansdowne House flats in Berkeley Square, now demolished

Lansdowne House, Berkeley Square

1935

Wimperis, Gutherie and Simpson

Image from RIBApix

A colour photograph of the art deco Sloane Avenue Mansions in Kensington

Sloane Avenue Mansions, Kensington

1933

George Kay Green

www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/sloane-avenu...

A black and white photograph of the house called Shawms in Cambridge, with its timber cladding

And as a bonus, here is Shawms (1938) by Margaret Justin Blanco White, a contemporary of Crowley. A modernist house in the suburbs of Cambridge, it’s concrete structure is overlaid with timber cladding. Image from RIBApix.

A black and white photograph showing the three houses in Tewin, designed by Mary Crowley

We also recently explored the houses in Tewin, Hertfordshire designed by Mary Crowley, three modernist homes from 1936, that looked forward to the Scandinavian influenced designs of the post war period www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/blog/anatomy...

A black and white photograph of Dorich House surrounded by leafless trees

Next is the expressionist-influenced house and studio in Kingston Vale by Richmond Park, designed by artist Dora Gordine, from 1936, with its tall, red brick profile. The house is open to the public throughout the year www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/blog/anatomy...

A colour photograph of the interior of the Hopkins House, with a metal staircase in the foreground

Also in a similar high tech vein to Wolton's design is the house designed by Patty and Michael Hopkins on Downshire Hill, Hampstead (1975). Still occupied by Patty after Michael’s death in 2023, the house was listed in 2018 www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/blog/anatomy...

A black and white photograph of the house in Belsize Park, designed by Georgie Wolton

We also published a blog on Georgie Wolton’s career after her death in 2021 which took in her early days in Team 4 alongside Norman Foster and Richard Rogers, on to her domestic designs of the 60s and 70s and her later landscape designs www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/blog/georgie...

A black and white photograph of the Fieldhouse by night, with its swimming pool in front

Today is International Women’s Day, so we thought we would go through some of our Anatomy of a House blogs that explore houses designed by women. First up, Georgie Wilton’s steel house in Surrey from 1969, now dismantled and in storage www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/blog/anatomy...

A colour photograph of the cover of Trackside Transformation

Great to get a copy of Trackside Transformation, a guide to the evolution of British Mainline station from 1923-47 by Philip Butler and Daniel Wright, this week. Really looking forward to digging in. You can preorder a copy here artdecomagpie.bigcartel.com/product/pre-...

A colour photograph of Rayners Lane tube station, showing the entrance with its rounded kiosk

Rayners Lane Underground Station

1938

Reginald Uren and Charles Holden

www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/rayners-lane...

A black and white photograph of Hounslow West tube station, shortly after opening

ICYMI, this week's blogs focuses on Ealing Common and Hounslow West, two stations that signify Charles Holden's evolving idea of what a tube station could be. Read it here www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/blog/the-inb...

A black and white photograph of Boston Manor tune station showing its tower with glass bricks and a roundel

Boston Manor Underground Station

1934

Charles Holden

Image from RIBApix

A colour photograph of Acton Town tube station with its rectangular ticket hall building

Acton Town Underground Station

1932

Charles Holden

www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/acton-town.h...

A black and white photograph of Northfields tube station with its rectangular ticket hall building

Northfields Underground Station

1932

Charles Holden

A colour photograph of Chiswick Park tube station with its circular ticket hall building

Chiswick Park Underground Station

1932

Charles Holden

www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/chiswick-par...

A black and white photograph of Park Royal Tube station, with its circular ticket hall and large square tower

And on the same day in 1936, Park Royal Station was opened. Designed by Felix Lander and Herbert Welch, it was built to serve the neighbouring Hanger Hill estate, also designed by Lander & Welch. Read about Park Royal here www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/blog/park-ro...

A black and white photograph of Ealing Common station not long after it was opened

On this day in 1931, Ealing Common Underground Station opened. Designed by Charles Holden, it represented a move away from his earlier tube designs towards a more expansive idea of what a tube station could be. Read more about the stations here www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/blog/the-inb...

A colour photograph of Dowgate Fire Station with its concrete facade

Dowgate Fire Station

1976

Hubbard Ford and Partners

modernist-london.weebly.com/dowgate-fs.h...

A colour photograph of East Greenwich Fire Station with its red doors and brown brickwork

East Greenwich Fire Station

1985

G.L.C Department of Architecture and Civic Design

modernist-london.weebly.com/lcc-glc-mini...

A colour photograph of the brutalist Bethnal Green fire station

Bethnal Green Fire Station

1969

G.L.C. Department of Architecture and Civic Design

www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/lcc-glc-mini...

A black and white photograph of Clapham Fire station at night

Clapham Fire Station

1964

London County Council Architect’s Department

A colour photograph of the brutalist Shoreditch Fire station on Old Street

Shoreditch Fire Station, Hackney

1965

London County Council Architect’s Department

www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/lcc-glc-mini...

A colour photograph of the modernist house at 32 Herne HIll, half covered in creeping ivy

32 Herne Hill

1936

Keller & Kompfner

modernist-london.weebly.com/32-herne-hil...

A black and white photograph of Frognal Close, designed by Ernst Freud

Frognal Close, Hampstead

1936

Ernst Freud

Image from RIBApix

Yes, I should have put that in the text. The photo is the garden side. There are four houses to that design, but three now have pitched roofs

A colour photograph of the chauffers lodge of Miramonte, Coombe Hill

Chauffeur's Lodge, Miramonte, Coombe Hill, Kingston on Thames

1936

Maxwell Fry

www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/miramonte.html

There were four houses in total, I think only one still has a flat roof, but they are all still there

A black and white photograph of the garden side of the a house at Willowhayne Avenue, Angmering-on-Sea

Willowhayne Avenue, Angmering-on-Sea

1936

Eugen Carl Kaufmann

Image from RIBApix

A colour photograph of the art deco White House in Downage, Hendon

White House, Downage, Hendon

1936

C.E. Simmons

www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/white-house-...

A black and white photograph of one of three houses at Tewin designed by Mary Crowley

Our first Anatomy of a House blog of 2026 explores Sewell’s Orchard in Tewin, Hertfordshire, a pioneering group of three houses from 1936, by the equally pioneering architect Mary Crowley. Read more on the houses and her career here www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/blog/anatomy...