A bluffer's guide to Modernism

Do you understand perhaps one of the most important art and design movements that's still influencing everything from skyscrapers to side tables? Get clued up with this quickie guide

A cultural revival of Modernism is going on in the art and interior design worlds, with the V&A's Spring exhibition 'Modernism: Designing a New World, 1914 - 1939', 6 April - 23 July, detailing the roots and development of one of the most important art movements of the 20th century. You can take a bit of modernism home with offerings from Habitat, which is sponsoring the exhibit. And just in case you need to brush up on your Bauhaus or Le Corbusier, check out this indispensable Bluffer's Guide, which includes all the essential Modernist buzzwords and conversation openers, plus top tips from Habitat on how to recreate a Modernist look in your own home.

Getting started - understand the movement
Modernism is more of an attitude than a style. The Bauhaus school believed that the design of an object should be based purely on its purpose - that 'form follows function'.
Top Tip - furniture is designed to serve a purpose and should be functional rather than ornamental, so steer clear of flock wallpaper and chandeliers

The roots of Modernism - know the background
The idea of having no extra ornamentation at the beginning of the 20th Century was a radical departure from previous style movements. Modernism was very popular in Europe, particularly in Germany with the Bauhaus school.
Top tip: don't mention your love for neo-Rococo and neo-Gothic decoration

Modernist Movers and Shakers - get familiar with Modernist icons

  • Frank Lloyd Wright was an architect known for his designs that incorporated 'organic' architecture - a style that respects the materials and a harmonious relationship with the environment. He's considered one of the truly great American architects and also designed furniture. Get a virtual reality look at Frank Lloyd Wright's prairie-style room on the Metropolitan Museum's website.
  • Mies van der Rohe was a designer and director of the Bauhaus art school. His iconic Barcelona chair (pictured) was introduced in 1929 and is still in production.
  • Le Corbusier, the Swiss architect and designer, was one of the most influential architects of the 20th Century. His work included an engineering approach to design (he referred to houses as 'machines for living') and includes mass housing blocks, public buildings and furniture.
  • Gunta Stolzl, a textile artist and director of the Bauhaus weaving department, developed the department into a modern design laboratory teaching every stage of the industrial process. Her work is the inspiration for a series of re-issued limited edition woven rugs, available from Habitat.
  • Name drop: The Bauhaus - the key Modernist art school founded by one of the leaders of the modern functional architecture, Walter Gropius. Other Bauhaus members included Paul Klee, Lyonel Feininger, Wassily Kandinsky, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy and Marcel Breuer.

The Values of Modernism - know it when you see it
Habitat's Tom Dixon and Christopher Wilk, curator of the V&A's Modernism exhibition, have come up with a handy summary of Modernist buzzwords to pepper your conversation

  • Structural honesty
  • Truth to materials
  • Healthy bodies
  • Simplicity
  • Geometry
  • Transparency
  • Glass
  • Industrial

Key dates - learn them, live them
1919 - The Bauhaus was founded in Weimar by Walter Gropius
1923 - Le Corbusier publishes his influential Vers une architecture book
1926 - German filmmaker Fritz Lang releases Modernist masterpiece Metropolis
1930 - Ludwig Mies van der Rohe takes over leadership of The Bauhaus
1933 - the Nazi government closes The Bauhaus School. The Chicago Institute of Design carried on the teachings of The Bauhaus in the US

Modernist architecture - see it in person
Visit these Modernist landmarks (or if you haven't got time, drop them into conversation to prove you're a real Modernist aficionado)

  • De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex
  • 2 Willow Road, Hampstead London NW3 - former home of Erno Goldfinger
  • The Penguin Pool at London Zoo, NW1 - designed by Berthold Lubetkin in 1934

Modernism on the High Street - get some for your 'machine for living' (aka home)
Modernism has been influencing popular design for decades. Habitat, the sponsor of the V&A's exhibition, bridges the gap between high-brow and the high street. Its range features Modernist-inspired products, including chrome angle-poise lamps, glass and steel accessories and re-issued limited edition woven rugs designed by Bauhaus textile designer Gunta Stolzl, as well as reproductions of Modernist posters (pictured).

And finally, to really show you know your stuff turn you own home into a Modernist showcase

  • Walls - leave your walls bare concrete or painted white or cream
  • Lighting - anything industrial looking is suitable. Long banks of picture windows are typically modernist and porthole windows are another typical feature. Habitat's Tommy desk lamp, the Bobby desk lamp or stylish Concord chrome table lamp with mouth-blown glass shade. If you're looking for a pendant light, try the Cornel glass dome shade on a metal chain are all perfect examples
  • Furniture - furniture should be made from a combination of tubular steel, bent wood, and leather with plain, unfussy upholstery. Get the look at Habitat with the Days Forum chair in ash brown, cream or walnut leather. For a Modernist office, choose Habitat's Tanna desk in beech wood
  • Built-in furniture/storage - buy or make built-in furniture such as low-level cabinets and bookcases. Check out Habitat's Influence shelving unit, the Magna storage unit or Lecco stacking bookcase
  • Glass and chrome - choose furniture such as coffee tables in glass and chrome with simple lines. Why not try Habitat's Gem side table and the Hammam chrome towel ladder
  • Floors - flooring should blend seamlesslyfrom one room to another. Choose wall-to-wall fitted carpet in a neutral shade, lino or quarry tiles. It can be broken up with Kelim rugs. Look out for Habitat's specially designed Modernist rugs, in store Spring 06
  • Windows - these should be as plain as possible to let maximum light in. Hang simple curtains in natural fibres such as linen from plain wooden poles or tracks. Otherwise hang plain white Venetian blinds. Get the look with Habitat Derwent ready- to-hang sheer curtains in white or natural 100 per cent cotton
  • Fireplace - this should be the focal point of the room. Choose a simple surround, eg MDF is good painted white or just wood. You can leave brickwork round the fireplace exposed or add some white tiles
  • Heating - radiators are often exposed and made a feature of. Choose striking designs around from coils and springs which look like pieces of modern art
  • Plants - choose one or two architectural plants such as cacti to complete the Modernist look
  • Accessories - choose simple glass accessories and kitchenware. Habitat's Veeva glassware, Serene dinner service in cream stoneware and the Ora clock complete the look