the modernist

the modernist exhibitions / events / publishing about 20th century modernism, architecture and design the modernist is...

a magazine - published quarterly since 2011.

"the modernist offers unique perspectives on 20th-century architecture and design. With its pages full of bus stops, B-roads and concrete — you won’t find any swaying fields of wheat here. But don’t be fooled by all the municipal mundanity; warm and endearingly nerdy, this is an unconventional but nonetheless idyllic picture of Britain. In these strange times, there is solace to be found in the qu

iet fanaticism of this magazine." (Stack Magazines)

a shop – not just on-line but in in real life too. Our bricks and mortar shop opened in May 2019 in central Manchester and is the only bookshop in Manchester specialising in architecture and design. Our focus is modernist architecture, graphics, typography, transport, furniture and product design. Alongside the books we have a specially selected range of modernist products from cushions to mugs and from chocolate to shiny spoons. It’s also with our office upstairs, our library, gallery and event space holding regular exhibitions. a publisher – our publishing arm was established in 2011 with the modernist magazine. It has now developed into a small press, publishing limited editions about 20th century architecture and design. All current publications are available. part of the modernist society which we originally founded as The Manchester Modernist Society in 2009 as a creative community, its social wing is its ‘Chapters’ all organising tours, lectures and gatherings. There are currently Chapters in Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, Birmingham Leeds and Swansea. The Modernist Society is dedicated to celebrating and engaging people with twentieth century architecture and design, through publishing, events, exhibitions and creative collaborations.

We're already looking forward to next year and joining this fine lot at the for the Artists'' Bookmarket in February.Ad...
23/12/2025

We're already looking forward to next year and joining this fine lot at the for the Artists'' Bookmarket in February.

Adam Geary
AMbruno
Amy Sterly Prints
Art Walk Press
B K Stationery
Book Works
Bound:unbound
C.A.hiley & C.Simonis (Riso Des Bois)
Catriona Clark
Central Fife Artist Collective
Ciarraí Samson and Karen Joyce
Concrete Nature
David Armes
David Faithfull
Deeooshee
Doris Press
ECA Illustration
Edinburgh College Of Art: MA Illustration
Elke Thompson
Essence Press
Everett Creates
Felicity Bristow
Fieldnotes
Frances Law
Frost Pocket Press
George Logan
Gnōbilis Press
Helen Douglas/Weproductions
Hestan Isle Press
Hrish*tonoy Dutta
Jack Ravi
Jacqueline Thomas
Jade Stout
James Holcombe
Jane Hyslop
Jeffrey Charles Henry Peacock
Jessica Crisp & Mhairi Braden
Joan Higgins
Joanna Caskie
Joanna Robson
Kate Foster
KBJ Publishing
Lydia Davies
Louise Wilde
Marc Gosteli
Marie-Alice Harel
Monitor Books
New Arcadian Press
Of Source! Press
Onion Press
Oo Press
Orange Press
Pauline Lamont-Fisher And Erin K. Schmidt
Peer Matters
ploterre
Somewhere: For Us
Sophie Demery
Strange Exchange Library
The Book Tree Press
The Bookband
The Caseroom Press
The Great Her
The Kelpie Press
the modernist
The Travelling Bookbinder
Wild Pansy Press

Opening Hours
The opening hours of Artists’ BookMarket are 10.30am – 6pm on Saturday 14 February and 10.30am – 5pm on Sunday 15 February.

Fruitmarket, Market Street, Edinburgh.

Take the advice of and SHOP LOCALLY Commonplace is a new photographic magazine celebrating modernist buildings and plac...
18/12/2025

Take the advice of and SHOP LOCALLY

Commonplace is a new photographic magazine celebrating modernist buildings and places across Britain and Ireland.

Born from a collaboration between the modernist and Uhm! Publishing, it explores the in-between places and small sites that lie beyond the mainstream modernist canon—those commonplaces that deserve a second look.

In Issue Two, Stephen Marland focuses his lens on the back streets of Blackpool and the variety of typefaces, colours and sometimes plain bonkers shop fronts that can be found there. With a short introduction from Helen Furnivall who grew up in Blackpool and knows these streets well.

32 pages b&w and colour

A5 Staple bound

ISSN 2978-5200

17/12/2025

the modernist x BDP present - The BDP Talk Series. 4.3 - Bruce Peter : Modernist Scotland - 22/1/26

We welcome back our old friend Bruce Peter to talk about his latest book - Modernist Scotland .

https://buff.ly/k2QUE1g

Our 2026 diary planner is available now!Do you find yourself forgetting to take Tiddles to the vet and your Auntie Doree...
27/11/2025

Our 2026 diary planner is available now!

Do you find yourself forgetting to take Tiddles to the vet and your Auntie Doreen's birthday? Well what you need is a diary.

Luckily we have one and they are exclusive to the modernist.

What do you need to know?

The diary has got all the months in it and all the days in it too. We have even thrown in a month (January 2027) absolutely free.

Enough space to fit in all you appointments and more beside. They are also very limited so don't hang about.

Completely original to the modernist - designed from the ground up by Johnson Inc.

Thank you to for delivering the first of this year's Modernist X BDP talks tonight.Holly's book 'Up in the Air' is a ri...
26/11/2025

Thank you to for delivering the first of this year's Modernist X BDP talks tonight.

Holly's book 'Up in the Air' is a rich history of political struggle within Britain’s most misunderstood buildings. It traces an unfinished battle for housing justice, offering essential lessons for the future of public housing - and of course it is available at the modernist shop.

Thank you all for coming and a huge thanks as ever to Manchester for hosting us.

See you in December for talk no.2.

See links in bio for details.

Modernist Scotland BadgeCreated to mark the launch of Bruce Peter's book Modernist Scotland, this enamel badge captures ...
21/11/2025

Modernist Scotland Badge

Created to mark the launch of Bruce Peter's book Modernist Scotland, this enamel badge captures the era's optimistic spirit. The Saltire blue enamel (Pantone 300C, the official shade of Scotland's flag) echoes the bold motorway signage of the period.

Modernist Scotland - An architectural journey through 150 Post-War Buildings by Bruce Peter—a fully illustrated exploration of Scotland's bold modernist legacy. Available now from the modernist.

Badges are £8 each (plus p&p)

See link in bio.

Can't decide what to buy? Then why not treat your modernist friends to one of our gift vouchers? They can be redeemed on...
20/11/2025

Can't decide what to buy?

Then why not treat your modernist friends to one of our gift vouchers? They can be redeemed on-line or in our real live shop.

When you purchase a gift voucher you will be sent an individual voucher code - you can then forward it on as a gift to your lucky recipient, so they can choose what they want from our range.

Bingo!

Pressie sorted.

**please note gift cards can not be used to redeem magazine subscriptions or memberships**

Jodrell Bank Badge2025 saw the 80th anniversary of Bernard Lovell and his team decamping to Jodrell Bank in Cheshire bec...
19/11/2025

Jodrell Bank Badge

2025 saw the 80th anniversary of Bernard Lovell and his team decamping to Jodrell Bank in Cheshire because the Manchester trams were interfering with their delicate experiments and instruments at the University of Manchester.

In 1957 Lovell's vision of huge radio telescope was realised and here at the modernist we have always had a special affection for this majestic construction.

Now Grade I listed and sitting in a UNESCO World Heritage Site the Lovell Telescope is the quintessence of British modernity. You can now show your appreciation of this wonderful piece of engineering by wearing this badge on your jacket lapel, boilersuit or spacesuit.

Badges are £8 each (plus p&p)

Address

58 Port Street
Manchester
M12EQ

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 5pm
Wednesday 11am - 5pm
Thursday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

01612358469

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the modernist magazine is a quarterly printed publication about 20th century modernist architecture and design. Published in the North of England and now spreading its tentacles across the world.

We’ve hand picked a team of experts, and dilettantes alike, to bring you news, reviews, musings and delightful titbits about modernist architecture and design. So, if you love 20th century architecture and you revel in the smell and feel of ink and paper, the modernist magazine is just the ticket. So, where can we get hold of a copy? You can buy on-line with a click here http://www.the-modernist.org/shop or you can pop down the shops... http://www.the-modernist.org/stockists/