Where are architects going on holidays: The best of mid-century cabins
Where are architects going on holidays: The best of mid-century cabins
Tuesday 29 September 2026 at 6:30pm—7:45pm
(doors open at 6pm for 6:30pm sharp start)
The Gallery, 70 Cowcross Street, London, EC1M 6EJ
Join Peter Halliday as he explores some of the most intriguing architect-designed holiday homes – from the famed seaside cabins by Le Corbusier to lesser known examples by Welsh architects Hird & Brooks.
An exploration of a largely forgotten but surprisingly extensive genre of modernist architecture, the holiday cabin – small, sparse, precise, and very close to nature. Today, the words 'architect-designed holiday home' may conjure up images of an indulgent cliff-top villa. Back in the post-war era, it was very different.
Many of the biggest names in architecture – the likes of Basil Spence, the Smithsons, and even Le Corbusier – designed their own holiday homes. And they typically went for basic, cabin-like structures: carefully considered, modestly sized, simply furnished, primarily constructed from wood, and very close to nature. The approach also spilled over into the mainstream, with several cabin park developers commissioning renowned architects to conjure up something special.
This talk explores this largely forgotten genre of modernist architecture. To set the scene, we look at several indicative examples from across the world. We then zero in on the work of celebrated Welsh architects Hird & Brooks. Although best known for a series of award-winning Danish-inspired modernist houses, the self-proclaimed highlight of their careers was their extensive work in holiday cabins.
Peter Halliday is a writer, photographer and proud owner of a near-pristine Hird & Brooks cabin. He is also the author of How Grey Was My Valley, an exploration of Welsh post-war architecture, co-author of Braw Concrete, a celebration of Glasgow’s brutalist architecture, and co-author of Cabin Crew, all published by the Modernist Society.
If you can't make it in person, there's an online version of the event too.
The book will be available for purchase at the event.
C20 Society Member £11;
Non-Member £16;
Young C20 member + guest Free*;
Student + guest £5 **
*For Young C20 members, please email lukas@c20society.org.uk to secure a place.
**For student pricing please select from the dropdown option next to ‘membership number’ on the booking form below.
Includes a glass of wine
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Note: This event is hybrid and is being run both in-person at Cowcross Street Gallery and online via Zoom. The event will be recorded and offered as a catch-up lecture for those who have booked and will be available for two weeks.
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The Twentieth Century Society is an IHBC (Institute of Historic Building conservation) recognised CPD provider and is a registered charity, no 1110244
Image above: Eileen Gray and Jean Badovicci’s Villa E-1027, Le Corbusier’s Cabanon, the Etoile de Mer bar-restaurant and the camping units. © Cap Moderne