Isokon

The London-based Isokon firm was founded in 1929 to design and construct modernist houses and flats, and subsequently furniture and fittings for them. Originally called Wells Coates and Partners, the name was changed in 1931 to Isokon, a name derived from Unit Construction, bearing an allusion to Russian Constructivism.

Related Topics:
1929 - Modernist - 1931 - Russian Constructivism

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Unusually for a design company, its directors were a bacteriologist Molly Pritchard, a solicitor Graham Maw and an economist Robert S Spicer. In actuality, the company was run by Molly's husband Jack Pritchard whose initial involvement was to handle the economics, publicity and marketing, but who later went on to hire designers and direct the company.

Related Topics:
Design - Bacteriologist - Molly Pritchard - Solicitor - Graham Maw - Economist - Robert S Spicer - Jack Pritchard - Publicity - Marketing

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Isokon's key project was the Lawn Road Flats in Hampstead, sometimes called the Isokon building, which opened on 9 July 1934. Intended to be the most contemporary word in modernist living, the block of flats were aimed at the market of new young professionals of the 1930s and contained 22 single flats, 4 double flats, 3 studio flats, staff quarters, kitchens and a large garage. In 1937 a club, the Isobar, was added to the complex.

Related Topics:
Lawn Road Flats - Hampstead - Isokon building - 1930s - Isobar

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In 1935, Walter Gropius, the former head of the Bauhaus, became Controller of Design for Isokon. He arrived in England on 18 October 1934 and lived in one of the Lawn Road Flats until March 1937, when he and his wife left for USA.

Related Topics:
Walter Gropius - Bauhaus - Lawn Road Flats - March 1937 - USA

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A month before he left for the USA, Gropius recommended Marcel Breuer, a former colleague at the Bauhaus, as his replacement for Controller of Design. The furniture Breuer designed whilst at Isokon are highly influential pieces of the modernist movement, and included chairs, tables and the Long Chair.

Related Topics:
Marcel Breuer - Bauhaus - Modernist - Chairs - Tables

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László Moholy-Nagy, another former Bauhaus teacher, also became involved with Isokon when he arrived in Britain from Germany in May 1935 and designed promotional material, including sales leaflets, showcards and the logo of Isokon firm itself, which was an outline of curved plywood chair.

Related Topics:
László Moholy-Nagy - Bauhaus - Britain - Germany - 1935 - Logo - Plywood

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However Isokon was never commercially successful. But the end came when World War II began and its supply of plywood was cut off. The Isokon Furniture Company ceased production in 1939.

Related Topics:
World War II - Plywood - 1939

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Jack Pritchard revived Isokon Furniture Company in 1963. However changes in the manufacture of plywood meant a redesign of some of the key pieces in the Isokon portfolio, for which Pritchard hired Ernest Race. In 1968, Pritchard licensed John Alan Designs to produce the Long Chair, Nesting Tables and the Penguin Donkey 2 which the company did until 1980.

Related Topics:
Jack Pritchard - Ernest Race

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In 1982, Chris McCourt of Windmill Furniture took over the license to manufacture Isokon pieces. Since 1999, this furniture has been sold through the retail arm of Windmill?s, Isokon Plus in Chiswick, London.

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Isokon furniture

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— Isokon Stool (designer unknown, 1933)

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— Isokon Book Units (designed by Wells Coates, 1933)

Related Topics:
Wells Coates - 1933

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— Desk made from Isokon Book Units (designed by Wells Coates, 1933)

Related Topics:
Wells Coates - 1933

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— Aluminium Waste Paper Basket (designed by Walter Gropius, 1935)

Related Topics:
Walter Gropius - 1935

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— Side Table GT2 (designed by Walter Gropius, 1936)

Related Topics:
Walter Gropius - 1936

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— Isokon Nesting Tables (designed by Marcel Breuer, 1936)

Related Topics:
Marcel Breuer - 1936

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— Isokon Dining Table (designed by Marcel Breuer, 1936)

Related Topics:
Marcel Breuer - 1936

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— Isokon Stacking Chairs (designed by Marcel Breuer, 1936)

Related Topics:
Marcel Breuer - 1936

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— Isokon Long Chair (designed by Marcel Breuer, 1935-6)

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— The Pocket Bottleship (designed by Egon Riss, 1939)

Related Topics:
Egon Riss - 1939

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— The Pocket Bottleship Mark 2 (designed by Ernest Race, 1963)

Related Topics:
Ernest Race - 1963

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— The Penguin Donkey (designer by Egon Riss, 1939)

Related Topics:
Egon Riss - 1939

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— The Penguin Donkey Mark 2 (designed by Ernest Race, 1963)

Related Topics:
Ernest Race - 1963

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