''Living with Modernism'' is a television documentary series first broadcast on

BBC Four BBC Four is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It was launched on 2 March 2002

in 2006. It is a companion series to ''

Marvels of the Modern Age ''Dan Cruickshank's Marvels of the Modern Age'' is a BBC documentary series in which Dan Cruickshank traces the roots of Modernism and focuses on the movement's leading lights, such as Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright, and the century's most ...

'' on

BBC Two BBC Two is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It covers a wide range of subject matter, with a remit "to broadcast programmes of depth and substance" in contrast to the more mainstream an ...

, and was followed by a sister series ''

Living with the Future ''Living with the Future'' is a television documentary series first broadcast on 15 January 2007 on BBC Four. It is a follow-up series to '' Living with Modernism'', also on BBC Four. In each episode, presenter Simon Davis visits the owners of a ...

'' in 2007. In each of six episodes, presenter Simon Davis visits a private family house designed by an architect associated with the

modern movement Modernism is both a philosophy, philosophical and arts movement that arose from broad transformations in Western world, Western society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement reflected a desire for the creation of new fo ...

Episode list

29a Loom Lane,
Radlett Radlett is a village in Hertfordshire, England, between Elstree and St Albans on Watling Street, with a population of 8,042. It is in the council district of Hertsmere in the south of the county, and is covered by two wards; Aldenham East and ...
,
Hertfordshire Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is one of the home counties in southern England. It borders Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire to the north, Essex to the east, Greater London to the south, and Buckinghamshire to the west. For govern ...

This episode looks at the family home of George Marsh which he designed for his own family to leave in. He was the architect behind one of London's earlier tall buildings, Centrepoint. Loom Lane, a distinctive building with an extraordinary paraboloid roof. Simon stays with Marsh's family to discover what life is like living in the house. (architect: George Marsh)

The Firs,
Hampstead Hampstead () is an area in London, which lies northwest of Charing Cross, and extends from Watling Street, the A5 road (Roman Watling Street) to Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland. The area forms the northwest part of the Lon ...

Designed in the late 50s by one of the lesser known but highly regarded British architect, Patrick Gwynne. Today it is the family home of William and Sharon Sargent, whom Simon visits for a weekend to learn more about Gwynne and his lavish design. The climax of the weekend is a relaxed and entertaining garden party. (architect: Patrick Gwynne)

Brackenfell,
Cumbria Cumbria ( ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in North West England, bordering Scotland. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local government, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumb ...

Designed by Sir John Leslie Martin and Sadie Speight, who later married in 1934. Martin, who was a leading advocate of the International Style with his most famous building being the Royal Festival Hall. Brackenfell, built for textile designer and artist Alastair Morton, MD of Edinburgh Weavers.The interior colour scheme was reputedly designed by Ben Nicholson who lived locally. It now has Grade II listed status. The house hasn't exactly weathered well, as it shows signs of its age, with parts of the concrete structure having rotted away. (architects: Leslie Martin and Sadie Speight)

16, Kevock Road, Lasswade,
Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

Stella and David Rankin originally bought their house for the garden, only to discover later that they had also purchased one of Scotland's finest modernist houses. Simon brings one of the architects back to the house for the first time in forty years. Kevock Road the brainchild of both

Morris and Steedman Morris and Steedman was an architecture firm based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The firm was founded by James Shepherd Morris (1931–2006) and Robert Russell Steedman (born 1929) in the 1950s. The pair are best known for their private houses in the mo ...

, this steel and glass building located near Edinburgh is a mesmerising example of modern living. It was one of Scotland's first modernist constructions, built at the top of a valley. (architects: James Morris and Robert Steedman)

"Stillness", Sundridge Park, Bromley, Kent

Designed in 1934 by Gilbert Booth, its a leading example of Art Deco architecture. With its 56 ft roof terrace, private landscaped garden and octagonal outdoor swimming pool. Thanks to a painstaking restoration undertaken by the present owners, the house stands much as it did in the 1930s. Recently assigned a Grade II listing, the five-bedroom property captures much of the elegance of a period many associate with pre-war Paris and the skyscrapers of Manhattan. After the programme was made, came onto the market at an asking price of over £1,295,000. (architect: Gilbert Booth, 1934)

Capel Manor House Capel Manor House is a small modern steel-framed private house in Horsmonden, in Kent in southern England. It was designed by Michael Manser for John Howard, a former Member of Parliament. It was built between 1969 and 1970. The house was cons ...
, Kent

The last in the series sees Simon visiting a wonderful 900 sq. foot steel-supported glass pavilion by Michael Manser, a former Riba president (architect: Michael Manser, 1972)

External links

* {{BBC programme
Kevock Garden

Morris and Steedman architects
BBC television documentaries 2000s British documentary television series 2006 British television series debuts 2006 British television series endings British English-language television shows

Episode list

The Firs, Hampstead Hampstead () is an area in London, which lies northwest of Charing Cross, and extends from Watling Street, the A5 road (Roman Watling Street) to Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland. The area forms the northwest part of the Lon ...

Brackenfell, Cumbria Cumbria ( ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in North West England, bordering Scotland. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local government, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumb ...

16, Kevock Road, Lasswade, Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...