CONTEMPORARY

'contemporary'
An exploration of the style that dominated 1950s architecture and design.Lesley Jackson

The first book fully to explore the 'Contemporary' style that dominated architecture and design in the late 1940s and 1950s
Surveys trends in taste and interior design at a time of economic regeneration and social renewal, when the positive spirit of the post-war era was reflected in the fresh, liberating expression of its buildings and home furnishings
Illustrations depict key elements of 'Contemporary' style, from picture windows and open-plan interiors to vibrant fabric designs and patterned wallpapers, to streamlined kitchen appliances and Scandinavian and Italian furniture and light fixtures
A lively appreciation of style both high and low

This book is the first to explore fully the so-called 'contemporary' style that dominated architecture and design from the late 1940s to the end of the 1950s. It was an era of optimism and confidence, where new ideas in architecture and design flourished alongside the emergent consumer culture.

Emanating mainly from the USA, the 'contemporary' style was fresh and liberating, manifesting itself in the picture window and the open plan, in new forms of furniture from Scandinavia and stylish light fittings from Italy, and most tellingly in the contemporary kitchen with its fitted units and mod-con appliances. This book examines the fresh and liberated design ideas of this buoyant era with an acute eye and open mind.