Soane and Modernism: Make It New

John Soane has long been hailed as a precursor of modernism by architects who saw in his emphasis on open space, geometric patterns and restriction of ornament the mirror of their own tastes. This exhibition at the Soane Museum in London digs out rarely seen drawings from the collection of Soane himself and pairs them with designs by Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ernö Goldfinger, Giles Gilbert Scott and others, to reveal intriguing consonances. It is little known, for example, that Scott’s design for the famous red London telephone box was probably influenced by the shape of the tomb designed by Soane for his wife, Eliza, in 1815; architectural drawings of both structures are exhibited side by side here (12 February–18 May).

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Bird’s-eye view of the west side of Dulwich Picture Gallery (1812), drawn by Robert Dennis Chantrell for John Soane. Photo: Geremy Butler; © Sir John Soane’s Museum, London

Rendered perspective of Arch Oboler House (1940) by Frank Lloyd Wright. Drawing Matter, London

Design for the lawn front and conservatory of Pitzhanger Manor (1810), drawn by Joseph Michael Gandy for John Soane. Photo: Ardon Bar-Hama; © Sir John Soane’s Museum, London

Urban Scene (1978), Aldo Rossi. Drawing Matter, London. © The Aldo Rossi Estate, 2024