the modernist x BDP present - The BDP Talk Series. 4.3 - Bruce Peter : Modernist Scotland - 22/1/26

Modernist Scotland is an architectural journey through 150 Post-War Buildings — a fully illustrated exploration of Scotland's bold modernist legacy.

This comprehensive study documents the revolutionary architectural movement that transformed Scotland's built environment in the decades following World War II. Through meticulous research and stunning visual documentation, Peter examines 150 significant modernist structures that shaped Scottish cities, towns, and landscapes—from pioneering housing schemes and civic centres to innovative educational and cultural buildings.

Modernist Scotland aims to be a living history and a manifesto, seeking to encourage greater understanding and appreciation of Scotland’s post-war built heritage and of the many diverse manifestations of the modern movement to have arisen there. This is necessary because since the 1970s many fine post-war buildings and environments have been neglected, unsympathetically altered or destroyed and many more – ranging from very large examples, such the Cumbernauld Town Centre megastructure, to small buildings such as pubs, houses and churches – are at risk. 

Copies of the book will available on the night to purchase. 

Bruce Peter (b. 1974) is Professor of Design History at the Glasgow School of Art. He is half-Danish and has written extensively about modern architecture, design and naval architecture. He advised on the preparation of the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Ocean Liners: Speed and Style exhibition and is presently completing a book and exhibition project for Historic Environment Scotland entitled Art Deco Scotland: Design and architecture in the Jazz Age. His presentation is based upon his recent book Denmark in Britain: Architecture, Design and Lifestyle 1945-1970 (Peter Lang Verlag, 2023)