Capturing the Everyday: Commonplace Magazine Launches This Autumn
There's something quietly radical about pausing to notice the world around us. In an age of endless digital scroll, a new publication is asking us to do exactly that—and to see Britain and Ireland's modernist landscapes through fresh eyes.
Commonplace, a collaborative photography 'zine from UHM Publishing and the modernist, is set to launch soon, bringing together a curated collection of images that celebrate the architectural identity of places we might otherwise overlook. This isn't about grand monuments or obvious landmarks. It's about the beauty found in the structures that shape our daily lives—the housing estates, brutalist car parks, post-war civic centres, and concrete town squares that define Britain and Ireland's modernist heritage.
A Collaborative Vision
The 32-page A5 magazine represents a meeting of minds between two publications deeply invested in documenting contemporary culture and architectural history. Co-edited by Stefano Sama, Hannah Neate, Jack Hale, and Eddy Rhead—the creative forces behind UHM! and the modernist—Commonplace brings together diverse photographic voices united by a common fascination with modernist spaces.
Designed by Molly Dow, the magazine promises to be as considered in its presentation as it is in its content, offering a tactile, keep-forever object that rewards close attention.
Why Commonplace? Why Now?
A lot of modernist architecture in Britain and Ireland has been dismissed, or simply ignored. Yet these buildings and spaces—born from post-war optimism and progressive ideals—continue to shape how we live, work, and move through our towns and cities. Commonplace argues that these structures deserve our attention, not as relics but as living, breathing parts of our landscape.
The photographers featured in the forthcoming issues understand that modernist architecture isn't just about clean lines and concrete—it's about community, ambition, and the everyday experiences that unfold within and around these spaces.
Available Soon
Commonplace offers an entry point into a rich visual conversation about place, identity, and architectural heritage. Whether you're an architecture enthusiast, a photography lover, or simply someone who enjoys discovering new perspectives on familiar surroundings, this magazine promises something special.
Issue One turns its lens to Brighton, a city known for its Regency elegance, progressive politics, and pebbled seaside charm. While most visitors gravitate towards the Royal Pavilion, the Victorian pier or The Lanes, Commonplace: Brighton invites readers to reconsider the city through nine post-war buildings that are angular, bold and unapologetically modern. Stefano Samà’s photographs capture a town hall, car park and law courts—monuments to municipal ambition—while other sites, including a community centre, hotel and cinema, add concrete heft to the South Coast’s architectural mix.
Keep an eye out for Commonplace—a new voice celebrating the beauty of the everyday, one modernist place at a time.