Isokon Gallery — Attraction in London

Wonderful small gallery located at the iconic Isokon Flats, one of the pioneering modern buildings of 1930s Britain. The building was designed by Wells Coates (1895-1958) for Molly and Jack Pritchard. Among the famous residents were Walter and Ise Gropius, Marcel Breuer, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, and Agatha Christie (plus a number of Soviet spies). The building also spawned the design of the eponymous Isokon furniture. The gallery and its volunteer staff do a great job illuminating the history of the building, which was lovingly restored in the early 2000s after having been quite run down. Isokon resident Paul showed us his beautiful flat. Lovely bookstore at the gallery. The design of the Isokon Flats reminded me of later designs by Zaha Hadid with its long...

A capsule collection and concise overview of the restored Grade I Listed building, a nexus of the pre-war Modernist movement in England. Evoking the milieu, the intellectual and cultural ethos and the intriguing caste of originators, emigre residents, sojourners, architects, fellow travellers and real spies. Insight and impetus aplenty here with engaging and knowledgeable 'guides'. Albeit compact the installation is exemplary - a design for life. Revisited 6 years later - the material/insights in this contained space the corollary...

A friend with an interest in architecture and social history took us here and what an amazing find! Highly unlikely to have found it myself, but a truly fascinating gem. Aspects of art, architecture, interior and furniture design, combined with a heady mix of political activism and, well, unconventional lifestyles (for the time anyway). Where else would you find a coming together of Bauhaus, Agatha Christie, and Marxism?...