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.

New in from the Bauhaus-Archiv for Modernists (and Goths)...Bauhaus-Archiv totes. This bag features the original Bauhaus...
12/11/2025

New in from the Bauhaus-Archiv for Modernists (and Goths)...

Bauhaus-Archiv totes. This bag features the original Bauhaus emblem – designed in 1922 by Oskar Schlemmer – and thus represents the clear, timeless design concept of the most famous design school of the 20th century. Reduced, functional, and iconic – just like the Bauhaus itself.

The Bauhaus emblem is a registered trademark and logo of Bauhaus-Archiv GmbH. © Bauhaus-Archiv GmbH

Dimensions: 36.6 x 41.4 cm

Eco-friendly information

Product materials: Plastic-free

Production: Ethically sourced

Projecting British Design : the Design Council Slide CollectionThe 100 images in this book are drawn from a vast archive...
08/11/2025

Projecting British Design : the Design Council Slide Collection

The 100 images in this book are drawn from a vast archive of over 22,000 photographic slides created by the Council of Industrial Design (CoID), later renamed the Design Council. Founded in 1944 to promote British design and boost post-war exports, the CoID embraced 35mm colour slides as both an educational and promotional tool.

'Looking through these slides is like peering into a luminous time capsule. A moment when design, colour and optimism were projected onto classroom walls and living room screens. For many, these images will stir fond memories: the click of a Kodak carousel, the hum of a projector, images of visionary objects; Sony Walkmans and Ford Fiestas. For younger readers, they offer a glimpse into an analogue world where design’s impact was already profound'. Minnie Moll

Available now. £16.00

116 Pages - colour

160mm x 160mm

ISBN 978-1-0682995-2-0

Villa Savoye, Le Corbusier.One of the Modern Architecture in Models: from the B.15 Workshop Archive currently on view at...
08/11/2025

Villa Savoye, Le Corbusier.

One of the Modern Architecture in Models: from the B.15 Workshop Archive currently on view at

Curated by Eamonn Canniffe and Scott Miller

31.10.25-24.12.25

at the modernist
58 Port Street, Manchester M1 2EQ
open 11am to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday

These architectural models of individual examples from the modernist canon of the twentieth century were created by groups of students from the University of Manchester School of Architecture between 1991 and 1998 and are preserved in the archive of the B.15 Modelmaking Workshop.

Lovely launch event for Modernist Scotland by Bruce Peter lat night.Thanks for coming everyone.Also BIG thanks to for h...
07/11/2025

Lovely launch event for Modernist Scotland by Bruce Peter lat night.
Thanks for coming everyone.
Also BIG thanks to for hosting and for providing excellent beers.

05/11/2025

Coming soon from UHM! + the modernist

Commonplace Magazine Launches This Autumn.

Commonplace, a collaborative photography 'zine from UHM Publishing and the modernist, is set to launch soon, bringing together a curated collection of images that celebrate the architectural identity of places we might otherwise overlook.

This isn't about grand monuments or obvious landmarks. It's about the beauty found in the structures that shape our daily lives—the housing estates, brutalist car parks, post-war civic centres, and concrete town squares that define Britain and Ireland's modernist heritage.

A Collaborative Vision
The 32-page A5 magazine represents a meeting of minds between two publications deeply invested in documenting contemporary culture and architectural history. Co-edited by Stefano Sama, Hannah Neate, Jack Hale, and Eddy Rhead—the creative forces behind UHM! and the modernist—Commonplace brings together diverse photographic voices united by a common fascination with modernist spaces.

Designed by Molly Dow, the magazine promises to be as considered in its presentation as it is in its content, offering a tactile, keep-forever object that rewards close attention.

04/11/2025

Modernist Scotland

By Bruce Peter

An architectural journey through 150 Post-War Buildings by Bruce Peter—a comprehensive, fully illustrated exploration of Scotland's bold modernist legacy.

This comprehensive study documents the revolutionary architectural movement that transformed Scotland's built environment in the decades following World War II. Through meticulous research and stunning visual documentation, Peter examines 150 significant modernist structures that shaped Scottish cities, towns, and landscapes—from pioneering housing schemes and civic centres to innovative educational and cultural buildings.

Der JahresübersichtsdatumsignalfarbposterwandkalenderOn a recent trip / pilgrimage to Ulm design school and museum in Ge...
01/11/2025

Der Jahresübersichtsdatumsignalfarbposterwandkalender

On a recent trip / pilgrimage to Ulm design school and museum in Germany we spotted these amazing calendars in their shop. We liked them so much we tracked down the supplier in Germany and have managed to get some and, as far as we know, we are the only place in the UK you can get them.

This calendar, officially known as the Der Jahresübersichtsdatumsignalfarbposterwandkalender - yes there really is a German word that long - transforms the experience of tracking time by revealing the year's progression through physical form. Each day unfolds sequentially.

As you peel back each date from the beginning, the calendar emerges into three-dimensional space, creating a dynamic sculptural object that grows throughout the year. The current date is always at the fold, making your place in time tangible and visible at a glance.

The wall calendar, including the header, measures 56 x 83 cm.

Please note that all the text on this calendar is in German. Great if you speak German but even if you don't we think it makes these even cooler.

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

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when the modernist posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to the modernist:

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Our Story

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/