The Isokon Building, also known as the Lawn Road Flats, in Belsize Park, London, is an iconic landmark of modernist architecture and social experimentation. Designed by Canadian architect Wells Coates for Jack and Molly Pritchard, it opened in 1934 as Britain's first reinforced concrete block of flats.

Architectural Significance and Concept:

The Isokon Building was a pioneering project, influenced by the International Style and Bauhaus principles. It aimed to offer a new way of minimalist, stylish city living, embodying Le Corbusier's concept of a "machine for living in." The building's sleek, white-rendered façade, with its long horizontal windows and cantilevered balconies, gives it an almost ship-like quality, a hallmark of modernist design.

The flats themselves were compact, primarily studio units, designed with efficiency in mind and featuring built-in furniture to maximize space. A key aspect of the modernist philosophy at Isokon was communal living. Residents shared facilities such as a laundry and a communal kitchen, which later became the famous Isobar restaurant and bar. The Isobar, a social hub for intellectuals and artists, was even said to have served the first kebab in London.

Notable Residents:

The Isokon Building quickly attracted a vibrant community of avant-garde thinkers, artists, writers, and even spies. Famous residents included:

Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus school.
Marcel Breuer, renowned furniture designer.
László Moholy-Nagy, Bauhaus artist and photographer.
Agatha Christie, the celebrated crime novelist, who lived there during World War II and found it a productive period for her writing.
Several Soviet spies, including Arnold Deutsch, who controlled the "Cambridge Five."

The Isokon Gallery (Museum):

Located in the building's former garage, the Isokon Gallery functions as a non-profit micro-museum dedicated to telling the remarkable story of the Isokon Building. It showcases the building's history, the social and artistic lives of its residents, and the innovative Isokon furniture company founded by Jack Pritchard. The gallery features original artefacts, information boards, and a recreation of an original flat's dressing room and kitchen.

Talking to a visitor in the bookshop and photography gallery.

Opening Times for the Isokon Gallery:

The Isokon Gallery is open weekends only, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, from the beginning of March until the end of November each year.

It's important to note that the flats within the Isokon Building are private residences and generally cannot be visited. However, during the annual Open House London event, typically in September, some of the flats may be accessible for tours.

The Isokon Building stands as a testament to a visionary era, reflecting an attempt to design avant-garde yet affordable living spaces and offering a unique glimpse into the lives of some of the 20th century's most influential figures.

Thanks go to Andrew Hardy for providing an excellent tour of the building and gallery.