Call for Content Issue 59 QUIET

Contributions are sought for short articles (1,000 words or fewer) with strong visual content, as well as photo and image essays, for the Modernist Society’s magazine, the modernist.

For this issue – and this issue only – the magazine is tackling the letter ‘Q’. Normally, we take a letter of the alphabet and use it to direct a whole year’s worth of content. Quite honestly, we decided it would be stretching it a bit to get three themed issues from ‘Q’, so this is a one‑off. 

The theme we have chosen for issue 59 is QUIET.  

QUIET is the new loud. Think of all the modernist places that have quietly been going about their thing without getting the attention they deserve. Design that is subtly striking. Spaces that ooze tranquillity, calm, or contemplation. Perhaps there are modernist architects or designers who had quiet careers outside the mainstream whose stories need amplifying. Ideas could relate to places of worship, countryside retreats, serene landscapes, soft colour schemes, or other interpretations of QUIET. 

We are open to suggestions – so be playful. If you have an idea related to twentieth‑century architecture or design that cuts through the noise and takes us into the QUIET zone, then get in touch. 

Submission guidelines 

  • Proposals only at this stage – a short paragraph and/or a few images outlining your idea is perfect. 
  • Articles must focus firmly on twentieth‑century architecture and/or design. 
  • All contributors will be contacted by 23rd September 2026. If your proposal is accepted, final articles and accompanying images will be due by 29th October 2026. 

The issue will be published in February 2027.

The Modernist is a not-for-profit social enterprise, run on a shoestring and sustained by the generosity of like-minded people and fellow travellers who share their ideas, words and pictures with us and our readers. We're unable to offer fees for contributions — articles and photographs are welcomed in a spirit of community and friendly collaboration.

Find out more

Explore previous issues of the modernist at the-modernist.org
Before submitting familiarise yourself with our contributor Terms and Conditions (below). 

 

CONTRIBUTOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS 

All contributors must obtain permission to reproduce images and any other non-original content prior to submission. It is the responsibility of the contributor to ensure that any content submitted to the modernist does not infringe legal rights. This includes submitting work that; could be libellous or maliciously false; be obscene or indecent; infringe copyright, moral rights, database rights, trade mark rights, design rights, rights in passing off, or other intellectual property rights; infringe rights of confidence, rights of privacy, or rights under data protection legislation; constitute negligent advice; constitute an incitement to commit a crime; be in contempt of court, or in breach of a court order; be in breach of racial or religious hatred or discrimination legislation; be blasphemous; or be in breach of official secrets legislation. 


Image captions 
St Paul's RC Church, Glenrothes, Tom Parnell from Scottish Borders, Scotland, CC BY-SA 2.0  
Eames House Case Study House-8, Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain
The Paimio Sanatorium, designed by Alvar Aalto, pictured in 1961, V. K. Hietanen, CC BY 4.0
All via Wikimedia Commons