Isokon Gallery - Minimalist Living, Artists & Spies
Modern architecture, retro furniture and tales of unusual tenants - the Isokon Gallery reveals the story of a remarkable 1930s apartment block in Belsize Park that was built as an experiment in minimalist urban living.
The Isokon Building, also known more humbly as the Lawn Road Flats, was the creation of Jack and Molly Pritchard, and the Architect Wells Coates. The building opened in 1934 reflecting a vision of a modern living space; minimalist, compact, yet stylish and sociable. It’s story is told in a little-known permanent exhibition housed next to the block of flats, which are still lived in to this day.
The Isokon Building was not always in the pristine condition seen today. The flats fell into an acute state of disrepair but were saved through an award-winning restoration project.
The gallery explores the Isokon's rescue, alongside the stories of the famous tenants who lived there, which is one of the most unusual aspects of the building's history. Highlights include Soviet spies, most notably the Cambridge Five recruiter, Arnold Deutsch, and the writer Agatha Christie, who called it home between 1942-47. Unsurprisingly, during this time she wrote her spy novel ‘N or M'. Plus, the blue plaque outside is for the three 'Bauhaus Masters', Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer and László Maholy-Nagy, who lived in the flats after fleeing pre-war Europe.
The Isokon Gallery is free to enter and staffed by volunteers, therefore reliant on donations and proceeds from the shop. The gallery recently had to go through a crowdfunding appeal due to the impact of the lockdown, so do show some support if you can! If you are looking for a short cultural outing that is a little different (or just want to stare longingly at a modernist masterpiece), a visit to the Isokon Gallery should be at the top of your list.
Find out details of visiting the Isokon Gallery on their website here.
Donate here.
If you are curious about the current interiors of the flats, check out The Modern Houses' article on the penthouse here.
Sources
*all content, including photos, is my own